Curricular documents in every Canadian province and territory now include outcomes related to digital citizenship (with varying degrees of specificity).
This topic is vital for today’s students. A quick look to the comments section of posts on any platform demonstrate why: hurtful, inflammatory comments seem to find their way into even the most innocuous posts. So many individuals–children and adults alike–are often emboldened when behind a device. Deliberate deception is also common though not as easily spotted. In fact, the reasons for discussing digital citizenship are many. This short video sites a report indicating that online harms are now the biggest threat to Canadian children–and connected to many of the other harms on the list!
Regulations and laws certainly need to change to protect our children. In the meantime, we can help prepare them for the dangers they may face with the internet at their fingertips. Age-appropriate conversations about rights and responsibilities in the digital world, online safety, well-being, privacy, and etiquette are essential.
When talking to students about this topic, I always reiterate that my intention is not to scare them but rather to prepare them.
Where to begin? Here are a few sites to explore in preparation for the conversation.
- https://protectchildren.ca/en/resources-research/online-safety/
- https://cybertip.ca/en/online-harms/safety-resources/
- https://www.getcybersafe.gc.ca/en
- https://teachingkidsnews.com/fakenews/
If you know of other effective sites, please share them here.