Digital Citizenship: Staying Safe and Smart Online

Digital Citizenship is all about using technology responsibly and respectfully. Think of it like being a good citizen of your town, but online!It's important because how you act online can affect your safety, your reputation, and other people's feelings. Being a good digital citizen helps make the internet a better, safer place for everyone.

Maya is excited for her family's vacation. She posts, "Can't wait to be in Florida for two weeks! Leaving tomorrow! Our house at 123 Maple Street is going to be so empty."The Risk: Maya just told the whole world her house will be empty and gave her address. This is a safety risk.The Smart Move: It's great to be excited, but it's safer to share vacation photos after you get back. Never post specific personal information like your home address, phone number, or full school name.The Fix: Maya should delete the post. She can also check her privacy settings to make sure only her close friends can see what she shares.

Leo is scrolling through social media and sees a mean meme about his classmate, Sam. A few people have liked it and left laughing emojis.The Problem: This is cyberbullying. Even if it seems like a joke, it can be very hurtful to Sam. Liking or ignoring it makes you a bystander.The Smart Move: Be an upstander, not a bystander. An upstander takes positive action to stop bullying.The Steps: Leo should not like or share the post. He can take a screenshot as evidence, report the post to the platform for bullying, and tell a trusted adult, like a parent or teacher. He could also send Sam a private message of support.