Cyber Safety

& Digital Citizenship

What parents and children should
know

Facts about
Digital Citizenship
O Digital citizenship is the norms of appropriate,

responsible technology use.

O You should act in the digital world the same way
you would in the real world.
O Too often we are seeing individuals abuse and
misuse the internet.
O We need to remember what we do online
impacts us in real life.
O What is a digital footprint?
O A digital footprint is the data that is left behind

by users on digital services.

O There are two main classifications for digital
footprints which include: passive and active.

Nine Elements
of Digital Citizenship
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Digital
Digital
Digital
Digital
Digital
Digital
Digital
Digital
Digital

Access
Commerce
Communication
Literacy
Etiquette
Law
Rights & Responsibilities
Health & Wellness
Security

Cyber Safety Tips

O Use a strong username and password (a combination

of upper and lower case letters, symbols and

numbers.
O Do not believe everything you read make sure you
know it is coming from a reliable source!
O Do not give out any private information about you,
your family, friends or others.
O Think before you send! If you would not want to
discuss the topic to someones in real time do not say
it at all.
O Only accept friend requests on websites from others
you know in person, and always keep your settings set
to private.
O Always ask an adult before visiting a website that you
are unsure of its contents.

Cyber Safety Tips for Parents

O 1. Keep the computer in an area where it can be
O
O
O
O
O
O
O

monitored, like the kitchen or living room.

2. Learn enough about computers so you can enjoy
them with your children.
3. Teach them never to meet an offline friend
unless you are with them.
4. Watch your children when they are online, and
see where they go.
5. Teach them about what information they can
share online, and what they can not.
6. Get to know their online friends just as you
get to know all of their other friends.
7. Warn them that people may not be what they
seem.
8. Discuss these rules, get your children to agree to
adhere to them, and post them near the computer.

What is Cyber Bullying?

The use of electronic communication to
bully a person, typically by sending
messages of an intimidating or threatening
nature.
O Studies have shown that children and teens
who are exposed to cyber bullying
experience:
O Hurt feelings, sadness, anxiety, depression,
anger, shame, fear, frustration, low selfesteem, inability to trust in others.
O

Cyber Bullying vs Face-toFace

O Cyber bullying is even more harmful to

young people than face-to-face bullying for

a number of reasons:
O Permanence
O Audience Size
O Familiarity
O Social Networking
O Speed

Resources for Parents

O http://www.netsmartz.org
O http://www.safekids.com
O http://www.isafe.org
O http://www.internetsafety.com

Resources for Students

O http://www.brainpop.com
O http://www.cybertip.ca
O http://netsmartz.org
O http://www.nsteens.org