Digital Citizenship

Digital citizenship refers to your membership in the group of people who use digital technology to interact with information and each other. This group is large, growing, and global in scope. It includes your family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and people you don't know and will never meet in person. The success of this group depends on its members all knowing certain things, adhering to certain norms, following certain rules and laws, and protecting themselves from people who aren't good digital citizens. Practicing good digital citizenship requires continuous learning and has never been more important than it is today.

What's Digital Citizenship?

Before you become too entranced with gorgeous gadgets and mesmerizing video displays, let me remind you that information is not knowledge, knowledge is not wisdom, and wisdom is not foresight. Each grows out of the other, and we need them all.
— Arthur C. Clarke, Asian Regional Human Development Report on ICTs, 2004

We are all citizens in a global society that uses digital technology to learn, talk, work, shop, and play. By now, you have all experienced its potential to both enhance and diminish our lives. You have used your networked devices to learn, create amazing things, and keep in touch with the people you love. You may have also been bullied, harassed, hacked, scammed, trolled, and victimized online, or you may be dealing with the fallout from questionable decisions, digitally preserved forever. You have been learning about the responsible, safe use of digital technology for years, but it changes so rapidly that it's tough to stay current. Do you know enough about the devices, apps, and sites you use daily? Are you getting the most out of your digital tools and using them safely and responsibly? Are you a good digital citizen, and do you have the skills you need to flourish in this digital world? Digital citizenship focuses on five important areas:

Your digital footprint. Both the pics, tweets, snaps, and texts you knowingly leave behind and the personal data collected without your knowledge.
Your level of digital literacy. Your ability to find accurate, useful information online and your skill using the apps and services at your disposal.
Civil digital interaction. Interacting with others appropriately and avoiding common pitfalls.
Your responsible use of digital technology. The laws governing behavior, privacy, and ownership in the digital world.
Digital hygiene. Staying safe in the digital world.

I know this already

You may think you're already a good digital citizen and don't need to sharpen your skills. Experience should tell you that it's a continuous learning process. Did you see ChatGPT coming? Do you know how to use it intelligently and responsibly? Technology advances rapidly, affecting many aspects of life, raising important questions, and opening up new opportunities. You might not know as much as you think, we all need to know more, and we all need to keep learning.

Did you know that James Earl Jones did not voice Darth Vader in Obi Wan Kenobi and gave Disney permission to use an AI application called Respeecher to clone his iconic voice instead? How much do you know about using AI to clone people's likenesses and voices? Could you tell the difference between a "deep fake" and the real thing? What impact do you think this might have on presidential elections? On sales and marketing? On close relationships? What new laws should be established to govern this new application of technology? What's your informed position on this?
Did you know that the FTC charged Ring with violating its customers' privacy by allowing any Ring employee or contractor to watch consumers' private videos? How much do you know about the Internet of Things and the growing number of things you own connected to it? What's your informed position on this trend?
Did you know that, besides phishing attacks via email, scammers now use smartphone technology to exploit your weaknesses? Don't have any weaknesses? If I ask you during a phone conversation whether you can hear me, will you say, "Yes?" That may be all scammers need to turn your life upside down. Are you up to speed on the ways scammers and hackers can gain access to your private online information? Are you protecting yourself and your private data properly?
Did you know that a promising Kansas nursing student was expelled from the program for posting a picture of herself holding a placenta specimen on Facebook? Have you Googled yourself lately? What can you do to improve your digital footprint? Are you familiar with the laws governing what you can and can't put online?
Did you know that Tiffani Shea Gish, age 50, recently pled guilty to leaving threatening voicemail messages for U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon in which she said she ordered a team of snipers and a bomb to be sent to Cannon's house and that she was going to kill Cannon in front of the judge's children. Gish faces five years in prison and a $250K fine. The U.S. Marshals Service reported that judges received 4,511 threats and inappropriate communications in 2021, up from 926 in 2015. Unfortunately, some people haven't left cyberbullying behind after puberty. Why do adults engage in this behavior online? What laws apply to it and how can you help build a more civil online society?

What good digital citizens do

Advocate for digital access for all
Treat others with respect online
Don't steal digital property
Understand appropriate use
Employ digital learning strategies for independent learning
Protect payment information during online shopping
Honor rights of others in all online forums
Respect all digital citizens’ privacy
Avoid addictive digital behavior

How can I learn more?

WSU offers a variety of resources for learning more about digital citizenship, sharpening your skills, and getting recognized for your accomplishments in meaningful ways.

LinkedIn Learning courses

There are many LinkedIn Learning courses that focus on digital citizenship. All WSU students and employees have access to our licensed LinkedIn Learning site and can take as many courses as they wish. Every course includes a digital badge that, upon completion, can be transferred to your LinkedIn profile. Here are some recommended courses:

WSU Digital Citizenship Badge Program

Contact TLT (tlt@winona.edu) for more information about our Digital Citizenship Badge Program. This tiered program of online minicourses is designed to fit into your busy schedule and focuses on all areas of digital citizenship. You get a digital badge for transfer to your LinkedIn profile, and your accomplishments will also be recorded on your co-curricular transcript.

External links

Except where otherwise noted, text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Digital Citizenship

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