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Digital Citizenship
Now, more than ever, it is extremely important to think about your online presence and identity. Good digital citizenship is very important. Just as we try to be good citizens in the physical world, we need to extend the same courtesies to the digital world. In other words, you should treat people online with the same courtesy you treat people in person. Cyberbullying is rampant among young adolescents and teens despite grand attempts to raise awareness. Responsible digital citizens understand the social and cultural norms in our physical society and can also apply them to the online environment.
Just as there are dangers and hazards in our everyday life, there are many traps you can fall into while socializing online. It is very easy to get involved in a chat with someone you don't know just because they are a 'friend of a friend.' Online gaming, virtual worlds and even photo sharing sites enable you to interact with friends and strangers as they participate in a game, enter your virtual space or comment on a photo. It is important to be selective with whom you choose to interact. Stories of cyberbullying, child predator schemes, or inappropriate conduct through photos or texts are constantly in the news.
How much time do you spend online? Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, and online games connect us with our friends in our community and those we meet online. We have to be careful of how much information we share online. You should always be conscious of the words you type and the images and information you share. There are plenty of examples of students losing academic and athletic college scholarships because of something they tweeted or posted online. Remember, you lose control of your information and images once they go online. Anyone can snap a picture or take a screenshot of what you posted or shared.