Check out these 10 Ways to be a Good Digital Citizen
I recently found a list of the 10 Ways to be a Good Digital Citizen on social media. I watch social media closely and it’s my job to share some of the hot topics on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and other outlets that teachers, principals, students, and parents are contributing.
The digital world keeps growing bigger and, in many ways, better. However, as with all things, the digital age comes with some major drawbacks. One of these issues is how people behave online. For many reasons, people do things online that they wouldn’t even attempt in real life. Sometimes this comes as in a good way, as it allows people to meet others more easily or to publish works they might have been too timid to attempt without the Internet. Often though, online activities resuls in hurtful and harmful behavior from people who wouldn’t dream of saying or doing the things they do online in real life.
As teachers, we need to do our best to educate students about the dangers of this behavior. One fantastic way to do this is by drawing real life comparisons. Dan McCabe posted an amazing infographic on the 10 Ways to be a Good Digital Citizen from ISTE. You can read the article about the infographic here. The chart lists 10 different ways people are good citizens in one column, and explains how that applies in the digital world in the next column. I pasted the full infographic below.
What are some other ways people should be good digital citizens? What are some drawbacks and benefits you’ve seen about the digital age? Why do you think people are usually meaner and more willing to break laws and deviate from social norms online than in reality?
Tori Pakizer is the Social Media Editor at SimpleK12.com. She writes regularly about the use of educational technology in K-12 classrooms, and specializes in how teachers use Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and other social media. You can follow Tori and SimpleK12 on Twitter @SimpleK12. If you have ideas for using social media in schools, please send your information or tip to editor@simplek12.com.
Some other ways people should be a good digital citizen is to stand up for others when they are getting bullied and you could try to understand other citizen’s perspective instead of just going against it. In my opinion major drawbacks in this digital age are cyber bullies and and online predators. You can never be too careful when it comes to online predators. Some benefits are being able to meet new people. I personally think people are more likely to be meaner on the internet because they think adults will never catch them and only the one person they are targeting will get upset by it, when usually it upsets several people. They try and act a certain way online to get “attention” from their “friends” when those people aren’t really their friends, they just want a good laugh out of it.
A believe a good rule of thumb when writing things on social media websites, blogs, email, or any other written form of communication is to first ask yourself “would I say this if I were face to face with this person” Often we forget there are real people on the other side of the conversation. I also ask myself if my statements are helpful or hurtful. I often read them over before sending them to look for different ways my words can be interpreted. Finally, when at all possible if I have to give any sort of criticism I make an effort to begin and end with a compliment or something positive.
Great information
Thank you.