Digital Citizenship Week

​Digital Citizenship Week is an opportunity for parents, educators, and students to educate themselves on issues concerning youth online activity. Online activity includes: cyberbullying, cyber predators, media literacy, social media use, games and apps marketed to kids, digital footprints, plagiarism, and more.

Cyberbullying is a big concern for many parents. According to a 2006 Pew Research of  935 teens age 12 to 17, “about one third (32%) of all teenagers who use the internet say they have been targets of a range of annoying to potentially menacing online activities”. Parents can help protect their child from bullies online and prevent their child from becoming bullies, through continued communication and shared open dialogue about citizenship online. Because nothing online actually disappears, helping your child understand that they’re creating a digital footprint teaches them to be mindful of their actions.

Digital Citizenship Week is a great social emotional learning opportunity because at the root of all citizenship is empathy for others. It’s never too early to encourage your child to practice mindfulness online by emphasizing an awareness of personal actions (and the actions of others) on digital platforms. Watch these CommonSense Education videos to learn more.

​We live in a digital world. At some point, whether through document sharing at school or online gaming at home, your child will engage with others online. Start a dialogue with your child about digital citizenship to help them think about safe online practices. Ask your child's teacher about classroom computer use policies and how you can help reinforce those guidelines outside of school. We hope you use Digital Citizenship Week to begin a meaningful and worthwhile discussion in your home!

Join the discussion on Twitter with other parents and educators using the hashtag: #DigCitWeek

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More reading and resources on Digital Citizenship:

• Resources for parents and educators on Common Sense Education Get Dig Cit Ready
• CDC Tip Sheet-  Protecting Your Child From Electronic Aggression
• Pew Research Center Study: 6 takeaways about how parents monitor their teen’s digital activities

 
Blogs for Parents on digital awareness and online behavior:

• Awareness: Image Safety and Kids
• A Conversation About Anonymity
• Technology: It’s a whole new world