What is Digital Citizenship?

Digital citizenship refers to how we should act when we are using digital technology and interacting with others online. This includes being respectful to other users, being responsible for your online behaviour (i.e. digital footprints) and keeping your personal information safe (i.e. security & privacy). 

Guidelines for the Responsible use of Social Networking

Social networking is the use of internet-based social media sites to connect or interact with other users online. The responsible use of social networking is central to digital citizenship, sharing the same three values of respect, responsibility & safety. 

1. Don’t share sensitive information (e.g. address, credit card number) that can be exploited and used against you for malicious intentions (e.g. stalking, blackmailing)

2. Update privacy settings – setting your profile to “private” grants you control over who you “friend”

3. Respect others’ creation/posts/production 

4. Don’t troll (e.g. intentionally upsetting people)

5. Post appropriate content and with permission (e.g. from friends in a picture, original creator of the material)

What is Cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying involves using the internet to bully or harass someone, usually by anonymously sending spiteful or intimidating messages.

Forms of Cyberbullying

• Exclusion – the deliberate prevention of someone from joining in on online activities or conversations (e.g. group chats) with the intent to make them feel left out.

• Harassment – occurs when a series of sustained, abusive & threatening messages are sent to a victim.

• Outing – the public humiliation of someone by sharing private or embarrassing material online without their consent. 

• Fraping – involves logging into someone else’s account to impersonate them and posting/commenting content under their name, which often damages the reputation of the victim. 

• Trolling – when someone deliberately makes provocative comments (e.g. insults) online in an attempt to instigate an emotional response or an argument. 

• Catfishing – involves stealing online identities or creating fake profiles for deceptive purposes.

Strategies to Manage/Limit Cyberbullying

1. Blocking the cyberbully is the most common & effective method, especially against harassment, as it blocks any online contact they have with you.

2. Telling them to STOP lets them know that their actions are actually hurting someone and also informs them of your personal boundaries. 

3. Capturing evidence through screenshots and reporting it to authorities. 

4. Don’t respond. Replying to an insult with an insult of your own will not only damage your reputation, but it also renders you a cyberbully. Additionally, by giving them the response they’re looking for, it provides them with a sense of satisfaction, and they may subsequently identify you as an easy target in the future.