Digital Citizenship

Awareness & Understanding

You probably use the internet every day — but have you thought about what it means to be a good citizen online the same way you'd be a good citizen in your neighborhood? Start by exploring Common Sense Media's free Digital Citizenship curriculum at commonsense.org/education. Play through their interactive scenarios about privacy and online communication. Think about your own online habits: How do you treat others in comments or messages? What information do you share publicly? You don't need to change anything yet — just observe. You're ready for the next step when you can name three ways online behavior affects real people in real life.

Research & Investigation

Now dig into how the internet actually works in your community. Look up Utah's internet access statistics — did you know parts of Salt Lake Valley have areas with limited broadband? Search the Utah Broadband Center (broadband.utah.gov) to see coverage maps. Also research one current issue in digital citizenship: cyberbullying, misinformation, or data privacy. Use MediaWise (poynter.org/mediawise) to learn how to fact-check online content. Find one real example of a misinformation story that affected your community and trace where it started. You're ready for the next step when you can explain how misinformation spreads and identify one tool for fact-checking it.

Planning & Preparation

You've identified the problem — now plan your response. Choose one digital citizenship issue that matters most to you (privacy, cyberbullying, misinformation, or screen time) and design a simple campaign to teach others about it. Sketch out three key messages you'd want your school or neighborhood to know. Think about your audience: younger kids? Parents? Classmates? Common Sense Media has free downloadable posters and tip sheets at commonsense.org/education/digital-citizenship that you can customize. Draft your campaign plan on paper before building anything. You're ready for the next step when you have a written plan with a target audience, three key messages, and at least one format (poster, social post, presentation) chosen.

Taking Action

Launch your campaign. Create the materials you planned — a poster, a short slideshow, a social media graphic, or a video. Share it with at least one real audience: post it to a class group chat, present it at a school club, put it up on a bulletin board, or share it with a youth group at a local library branch. The Salt Lake City Public Library's Digital Literacy programs (slcpl.org) sometimes partner with youth on digital citizenship projects — check if there's a fit. Collect at least three reactions or pieces of feedback. You're ready for the next step when your campaign has reached a real audience and you have feedback from at least three people.

Leadership & Expansion

Scale your impact. Help your school or a community organization adopt a digital citizenship policy or resource guide. Work with a librarian, teacher, or youth director to formally introduce the materials you created. You could propose that your school use Common Sense Media's free Digital Citizenship curriculum, or suggest that a local library branch host a family digital safety night. The Utah State Board of Education has digital citizenship resources under their technology standards — look those up and reference them in your proposal. You're ready for the next step when you have pitched your idea to an adult leader and gotten a commitment to at least try one element of it.

Impact & Reflection

Reflect on your journey from internet user to digital citizen advocate. Write a short essay or record a two-minute video covering: what digital citizenship issue you focused on, what you learned that surprised you, and what you think schools and communities should do differently. Share it in a place others will see it — a school newsletter, your library's youth board, or a blog. Consider applying to present at a youth technology conference or submit your work to the Utah Education Network's student showcase. You're ready for the next step when you can clearly explain to someone else why digital citizenship is a civic issue, not just a personal one.