10 Examples Of Good Digital Citizenship

Derived from examples presented by by TeachThought Staff 

What is good digital citizenship?

Good digital citizenship is communicating online with clarity and respect, respecting your own and other’s privacy and safety, thinking critically and carefully about ideas, conversations, and events before responding or contributing. Practicing good digital citizenship is often a matter of the golden rule–and a little bit of common sense.

10 Examples Of Digital Citizenship

1. Think Critically

It may not seem obvious, but thinking clearly and critically is at the heart of any form of citizenship. Thinking critically about the things you read online (and off)–especially sensationalized headlines and other misleading or polarizing content meant to elicit an emotional response in readers–is good digital citizenship 101. It is important to remember to avoid cognitive bias and logical fallacies and fact-check information before commenting or sharing.

2. Monitor

Monitoring the net effect of your activity online: How are you affecting things and people online? How is being online affecting you?

3. Respond

Responding to a question you have the background or knowledge to answer. If you have a dissenting opinion, comment with respect and acknowledgement of other perspectives.

4. Contribute

Contribute digitally by adding true, helpful, inspiring, necessary, and/or kind information.

5. Cite

Remember to cite resources every chance you get!

6. Elevate

Elevate discussions by responding to rudeness and name-calling with wisdom and kindness.

7. Protect

Protecting someone from cyberbullying or protecting account info with secure passwords changed regularly.

8. Assume the best

In discussions with people you know, assuming their best intentions is good digital citizenship. Tone is difficult to transfer online. Assume the best. Before taking offense, ask clarifying questions.

9. Consider

Related to critical thinking, considering ideas from other perspectives is crucial to empathy–which itself is crucial to digital citizenship.

10. Report

If something needs reported–dangerous behavior, bullying, suicide threats, violence, etc.–find out who they ‘authorities’ are in that context and reporting it is good digital citizenship.