Be Aware, Spread Kind Words Everywhere

By Elizabeth Sutherland

One thing Princeville High School prides itself on, is the promotion of positive speech, actions, and interactions to its students. This school year, PHS has taken on a program that features specific categories each month pertaining to Digital Citizenship and Social Emotional Learning. For the month of December, the focus is on Digital Drama and Hate Speech, as well as Social Awareness.

Due to the rise in the use of social media and the internet, your device has become a common place where you may experience incidents of Digital Drama or Hate Speech happening. Cyberbullying is shockingly common. According to DoSomething.org, 37% of teens 11-17 have reported being cyberbullied, so it’s important we stay conscious about how we use our social media and how it affects others. A helpful tip from Common Sense Media is, “If you notice yourself being pulled into digital drama, take a break from your device.” It can help you recharge, reset, and take a step back from what’s happening.

Social Awareness goes hand in hand with Digital Drama and Hate Speech, and it’s something we should practice if we participate in social media often. Social Awareness is simply a person’s ability to consider the perspectives of other people and to interact with those people accordingly. For example, if a friend of yours was being cyberbullied, you would show your friend support during their distress. You are AWARE of their situation and your actions could make them feel better. Speaking up against hate speech is an important part of preventing it. 

Being a good Digital Citizen means using the internet effectively and knowing right from wrong. If we use tools like Social Awareness to combat Hate Speech and cyberbullying, then we can help make social media a more positive place for everyone.