If you have a school aged child, you’ve probably heard the term “Digital Citizenship.” But what does it mean? Digital Citizenship covers the skills needed by everyone to safely navigate all things digital – our phones, computers, social media, online accounts, apps, etc. This can mean thinking before we post, keeping our passwords private, and monitoring our digital footprint (the trail of data we create when we use the internet). The media runs stories about cyberbullying, online privacy, and fake news. For many of us, these aren’t things we had to think about when we were growing up, so what can you do to protect and inform your family?
The first step is to educate yourselves (and your kids). There are great resources at Common Sense Media, Family Online Safety Institute, Connect Safely, and many more that provide conversation tools, possible scenarios, and reviews of apps and other online media (and movies). One of the biggest things you can do is talk to your kids and set family guidelines that everyone will adhere to (i.e. device free dinner). You should know what social media your child is using (and make sure it’s age appropriate, more on this in a future column).
Most phone carriers have apps available to help you set limits for your entire family (i.e. no texting during the school day, devices off after a certain time). A great start to good digital citizenship is to set boundaries for technology use – both for fun and for educational gain. Every family is different, but some have decided that devices should all be charged in the family room at night – thus keeping them out of bedrooms during sleep times. Some use apps such as Our Pact or Bark to monitor social media and Internet use. You can even set up filters in your home using a variety of tools from your Internet provider or devices such as Disney Circle or NetGenie. Whatever you decide, it all starts with a conversation about what is appropriate use and why. This conversation should also extend to the use of devices during the school day.
Technology use is here to stay, and it’s important to talk to your kids about the challenges and opportunities that today’s digital landscape offers. In the coming months, we’ll break this very large topic into more manageable pieces.
