DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP

"A digital citizen accepts and understands the rights and responsibilities of inhabiting cyberspace, including online

safety"

Digital Citizenship consists of numerous themes

including:

- appropriate online etiquette

- information literacy  

- understanding how digital technology works

and how to use it

- understanding ethics and law relating to

technology

- knowing how to stay safe online

- looking after your online reputation

Simple Rules to RememberHere are 6 simple rules of digital citizenship to help you create a world that you can be proud of, and inspire others to do the same.

1. Stay safe online. Avoid posting personal information. Keep your profile private, manage your friends list and be careful who you trust online.If you ever feel uncomfortable by unwanted contact do not respond. Take a screen shot, log off and report it to an adult you trust.

Simple Rules to Remember

2. Think before you post or text. 

A bad reputation could be just a click away. Before you press the "send" button, imagine the last person in the world that you’d want seeing what you post.

Simple Rules to Remember

3. What goes around comes around. 

If you want your privacy respected, respect others' privacy. Posting an embarrassing photo or forwarding a friend’s private text without asking can cause unintended hurt or damage to others.

Simple Rules to Remember

4. Spread heart, not hurt.

 If you wouldn’t say it in person, don’t say it online. Stand up for those who are bullied or harassed, and let them know that you’re there for them.

Simple Rules to Remember

5. Give and get credit. We’re all proud of what we create. Give credit for your sources.Illegal downloading, digital cheating, and cutting and pasting other people’s stuff may be easy, but that doesn’t make it right. You have the responsibility to respect other people’s creative work -- and the right to have your own work respected.

Simple Rules to Remember

6.Make this a world you want to live in. 

Create, share, tag, comment, and contribute to the online world in positive ways.

References and further Reading

Common Sense Media. (2010) Connected Culture Student Intro Video -- Our Connected Culture. Retrieved from:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0XQj1anI-E&feature=youtu.be

Common Sense Media (2013) Digital Citizenship Poster for Elementary School Classrooms. Retrieved from:http://www.edudemic.com/printable-digital-citizenship-poster/

Cybersmart (2014) Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved from: http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/

Knorr, C. (2010) Be a Good Digital Citizen: Tips for Teens and Parents. Retrieved from:  https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/be-a-good-digital-citizen-tips-for-teens-and-parents

NetSafe (2010) Digital Citizenship in New Zealand Schools Overview. Retrieved from: http://www.netsafe.org.nz/Doc_Library/Digital_Citizenship_in_New_Zealand_Schools_Overview.pdf

Oxley, C. (2012, August 12). Developing a digital citizenship program [Slideshow]. Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/cathryno/developing-a-digital-citizenship-program.

Ribble, M. (2014). Digital Citizenship. Retrieved from http://www.digitalcitizenship.net

Ribble, M. & Bailey, G. (2014) Digital Citizenship in Schools, Eugene, Oregon, International Society for Technology in Education