Be Smart, Be Safe

By Elizabeth Sutherland

If you’ve been keeping up with the Princeville newspaper, you’ll know that with a new month comes a new Digital Citizenship topic. And if you’re just beginning to read, then you’ll discover this month’s focus for Digital Citizenship is focused on privacy & security, as well as responsible decision making. All topics aim to educate students and other members of the staff and community about how to use the internet safely and responsibly.

In today’s fast-paced digital world, it seems you can do almost anything online. From shopping to posting, at some point you’ve probably shared your information with someone else on the internet. This is ok, but it’s important to be mindful of who you share your personal information with. According to the National Cybersecurity Alliance, “When you post a picture or video online, you may also be sharing information about others or personal details about yourself like where you live, go to school or hang out.” An easy tip is to think of personal information like money; you want to know what’s being collected and how it’ll be used. 

In order to manage your privacy & security, responsible decision making has to be applied. There are a couple helpful things you can remember in order to keep your information safe. The National Cybersecurity Alliance recommends, “Use strong passwords, passcodes or touch ID features to lock your devices. Securing your device can help protect your information…” Choosing responsible passwords to protect your accounts and devices from being compromised.

You might not always be thinking about how your information is being used, but now you know the risks and steps to take to prevent a problem. And if your information is safe and protected, you can have peace of mind when you go online. Reading articles and doing your research arms you with the knowledge  to dive into using the internet responsibly so it can be fun!