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"Don't say anything online that you wouldn't want plastered on a billboard with your face on it." - Erin Bury (Canadian Entrepreneur & Globe and Mail Columnist)
"Don't say anything online that you wouldn't want plastered on a billboard with your face on it." - Erin Bury (Canadian Entrepreneur & Globe and Mail Columnist)
Digital Citizenship
Digital Citizenship
Digital citizenship means using online spaces safely, respectfully, and responsibly—much like you would in the real world. It starts with understanding that every action you take online contributes to your reputation and to the broader digital community. This includes thinking critically before posting, protecting your own privacy and respecting others’, and standing up against hate, harassment, or misinformation.
Digital citizens not only have responsibilities but also rights: to privacy, freedom of expression, access to information, and protection from discrimination—all supported by Canadian law and international conventions. More than just self-protection, true digital citizenship includes speaking out, promoting respectful discourse, and engaging in thoughtful digital activism — knowing that even a small group of committed individuals can help shift the culture online.
A computer mouse with an inked fingerprint on the left-click button.
There are four core skills for active online engagement:
There are four core skills for active online engagement:
Empathy & Community: considering the real people behind each username and fostering positive interactions;
Positive Technology Use: leveraging digital tools for connection and community involvement;
Sharing Information: fact-checking before spreading content and challenging misinformation; and
Ethics & Privacy: understanding rights around privacy and intellectual property, and using platform tools wisely
MINDS ON
MINDS ON
💡 Reflection
💡 Reflection
These prompts can help you think critically about your own digital habits and prepare you for future learning, work, or volunteer roles:
Things to consider:
Have you ever responded to someone online based on emotion? What might you do differently next time to practice empathy?
How could you intentionally use digital tools to support academic, volunteer, or workplace goals without letting them distract from other priorities?
Before sharing something that sparks a strong emotion, what steps will you take to verify its accuracy?
Reflect on a time you shared someone else’s content online. Did you consider whether they’d wanted it shared—and did you respect copyright or privacy?
Record your answer in your Student Workbook.
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