Class is in Session: Digital Citizenship Etiquette 101

As you gear up for the new school year, it’s crucial to remember that your digital presence is just as important as your physical presence. How we spend our time online can affect our wellbeing offline.

Being digitally mindful means being aware of how your online actions affect yourself and others.

This is especially important as social media and digital communication become integral parts of your daily school life. Here are some tips to help you navigate the digital world responsibly and mindfully.

Balance Screen Time

It’s easy to get carried away in scrolling, whether you’re in class or trying to go to bed on a school night. Balancing screen time is crucial for maintaining your well-being. Here are some scroll-smart reminders: 

• Establish limits for how much time you spend online. Use features on your devices to set screen time limits and take regular breaks to rest your eyes and mind.

• Make time for hobbies and decompression time offline, especially if you’re experiencing mood changes from toxic interactions or content. 

• Pay attention to how your online activities make you feel. If you find that certain apps or websites make you anxious or unhappy, consider reducing your use or taking a break from them.

Communicate Like a Good Digital Citizen

Being a good digital citizen involves communicating respectfully and thoughtfully online. Here are some green flag behaviors you can adopt to accomplish that: 

Protect Your Personal Information

Your digital footprint is permanent, so it’s vital to protect your personal information. Here’s how:

Be Cautious with Personal Details

Avoid sharing sensitive information like your home address, phone number, or school name publicly. Use platform privacy settings to control who can see your information.

Block Peer Pressure

If someone continuously pressures you to share details you’re not comfortable sharing, it’s time to kick them to the conversation curb.

Report

In the event that someone shares your personal information or images without consent, report them to the platform. If you need photos removed, there are online tools that can help you, like TakeItDown.org

Seek Help When Facing Online Issues

You don’t have to go through it alone. Whether you feel like you can solve the problem or not, it can help to talk to a trusted friend, caregiver, or teacher if you encounter problems online. 

Here are some conversation starters to empower open conversation:

If you need to turn to someone you don’t personally know, there are many organizations that provide help and resources for online issues. 

💙 Trained Volunteer Counselors at Crisis Text Line can be reached by texting “NOFILTR” to 741741.

Create your own set of Digital Citizenship Principles

And stick to them. By creating your own digital citizenship principles, you can ensure a safe, respectful, and mindful online experience for yourself and others.

If we could sum this resource article up into four principles, it would be: Balance, Respect, Privacy, and Support. Feel free to take some inspiration from this resource article.

Some platforms also have principles that can be a great start. We love this Teen Charter by our friends at Discord, built with teens for teens, which focuses on Authenticity, Privacy, Inclusivity, and Transparency. 

Let’s make the internet a better place, one smart click at a time. Your actions online have real-world impact—be a digital leader and set the standard for positive online behavior!