Pause & Think Online: How to be responsible digital citizens

With kids growing up in an age of smartphones and social media, it is important to have online social skills to take part in the virtual community life in an ethical and respectful way. There are several components of digital responsibilities:

• First, it is necessary to be respectful in any online relationship, and, in turn, you will be respected as well.
• It is also very important to protect one’s reputation and privacy online. Children should be careful about uploading personal content such as photos, and should never share more information than is necessary. There is always the possibility of becoming victims of cyber-bullying or cyber manipulation.  
• Children should learn to think before they trust, because there are too many people and offers online which are not really who/what they seem to be.

Common Sense Education has created free online lessons for teachers to teach students how to be safe, responsible, and respectful online from their heads down to their toes, and their feet up to their nose. The basic tenets include ‘Think With Your Mind’, ‘Balance With Your Arms’, ‘Listen To Your Gut’, ‘Stand Up With Your Legs’, ‘Make Good Tracks With Your Feet’, and ‘Feel With Your Heart’.

Click on the video to learn more!