Digital citizenship

1. What does it mean to be a good digital citizen?

When interacting through a screen we tend to feel that we are anonymous, but this is far from being true because, as in reality, each individual adopts behaviors based on his or her ethics and morals. So you consider yourself a good digital citizen? do you know how you should behave when interacting through a screen?

If you surf the Internet with a respectful and responsible attitude, you not only make your experience safe and secure, but also that of others.

It is not a difficult task to be a good digital citizen, you just have to always keep in mind that even though you are interacting through the screen, on the other side there is always another person who has the same right as you to be treated with dignity and respect.

2. Six recommendations for being a good digital citizen

• Respect
  • When you enter forums, social networks, etc., be respectful and treat others as you would like to be treated.

• Avoid interacting with trolls
  • Trolls are those people who engage in creating a bad atmosphere or seek to argue, especially on social networks. Avoid interacting with these types of users at all costs.

• Respect copyrights
  • It is very easy to search and use information that we get from the net but, if you want to be a good digital citizen, never take material that does not belong to you, and if you do always cite such material or ask permission from the author. Remember that plagiarism is a crime as well as theft of goods.

• Think of your digital footprint/image
  • Be very careful of what you share because after doing so you will no longer have control over its dissemination and that is what will make your digital footprint expand for years to come. This can be an advantage/disadvantage if you are, for example, looking for a job, as currently 30% of companies rely on your digital profile to select you as a candidate or not.
  • Taking care of your image in digital media is equally important since, according to Romeu, “Our digital identity is our permanent resume, updated and available to everyone”.

• Take care of your personal data
  • Avoid publishing personal data such as cell phone numbers, addresses, identification numbers, etc. because this information can be used to affect, or even be misused.

• Actual information
  • Before sharing something on the network, make sure it is truthful information, especially if it may cause any concern to society or contribute to misinformation.
  • Research and confirm if what you share is real and even more if it is something that will cause a big impact.

3. Conclusion

Digital citizenship opens many doors for us to communicate with different people anywhere in the world and for any field, be it work, personal or commercial.

However, we must always be aware of the dangers to which we expose ourselves if we do not use these new technologies responsibly, such as:

• False and misleading information that can lead to misunderstandings and wrong decisions.
• Online harassment/cyberbullying, which can be detrimental to people’s mental and emotional health.
• Threats to online privacy and security, such as being a victim of cyber attacks, identity theft and theft of personal information.
• Technology addiction: Excessive use of technology and lack of disconnection can lead to technology addiction and social isolation.

By being aware of the risks and taking measures to protect our personal information and our online identity, we can reduce the chances of being victims of cyber-attacks, online fraud and other technology-related crimes, and we can also contribute to creating a more respectful, inclusive and collaborative online culture, promoting values such as tolerance, respect, empathy and honesty.

5. References

• Live, “Digital Citizenship from the Metaverse”. Delia Bernal. Founder of Docentes Digitales. March 2023. Link