What is digital citizenship? This question is becoming increasingly important as our society is becoming more and more dependent upon technology and internet usage!
The definition of citizenship is the position or status of being a citizen of a particular country or state. The definition of digital is involving or relating to the use of computer technology. By somewhat combining these two definitions together, you can get digital citizenship!
So, the definition of digital citizenship, as provided by teachthought.com, is “the quality of habits, actions, and consumption patterns that impact the ecology of digital content and communities.”
https://www.teachthought.com/the-future-of-learning/the-definition-of-digital-citzenship/
Another, more simple definition that I like is provided by a website dedicated to digital citizenship. It states that digital citizenship is “the norms of appropriate, responsible technology use.”
http://www.digitalcitizenship.net/
One major question surfaces when talking about this term. How should we act when we are online?
More and more, people all around the world are interacting digitally with each other. The way in which we interact with our online content, each other, and various communities is largely important! We must always keep in check the quality of our activity, habits, and consumption of materials!
It is all too easy nowadays to sit behind a computer screen and say and do whatever we want to! This should not be the case.
If you take some time to look into it, the digital footprints that we leave behind can be surprisingly detailed! Any person, from all over the world, can search your name and discover who you are and your identity online!
It is our responsibility to behave whilst online and contribute to the common good of our digital communities! Being helpful and respectful are two of the largest components of digital citizenship.
Teachthought.com also gives some terrific examples of what it might look like to be an effective digital citizen! They state that communicating with respect, respecting other’s privacy, seeing things from other perspectives, contributing helpful information to a discussion, supporting others, providing constructive feedback, encouragement, and sharing useful content are all ways in which we can enact digital citizenship!
Our online identity and how we interact digitally is becoming increasingly important within this age of technology. Keeping our activities, habits, and consumption in check is highly important! Not only do we want to make sure our online identity is in good shape, but also the internet as a whole! Educating the world about digital citizenship is essential!
Caleb's Blog 
The topic of digital citizenship can form a lot of questions. Like who are we online? How am I a good citizen online? What does it take to be a good citizen online? I think that this is something that should be taught in schools. Teaching kids that their actions online can play a role in their actions offline. Nice post, Caleb!
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s a lot of truth to this, Abbie! Thanks for the read!
LikeLike
I really liked this read Caleb. I couldn’t agree more that it is so important to find the ability to communicate behind a screen! Great job!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the read, Dane! Appropriate digital citizenship is oh, so important!
LikeLike