Online Kindness & Digital Citizenship
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What you will learn
- 1Pause before posting or sending anything online
- 2Choose words that are kind, true, and useful
- 3Tell a trusted adult about online cruelty or pressure
- 4Protect your private information and the information of others
Mini Lesson
Every message, comment, and photo you send online leaves a trail. A good digital citizen treats people on screens the same way they treat people in person — with kindness, honesty, and respect.
Your Digital Footprint
A digital footprint is the trail of everything you post, send, or share online. Even messages that "disappear" can be screenshotted. Once something is captured, it can travel far beyond the people you sent it to.
- Screenshots last forever — assume anything you send could be saved.
- Future coaches, mentors, and employers may see what you post.
- You build your reputation one comment, one post, one message at a time.
The THINK Test
Before you post or send a message, run it through five quick checks. If your words fail any one of them, do not hit send.
- T — Is it True?
- H — Is it Helpful?
- I — Is it Inspiring (or at least kind)?
- N — Is it Necessary?
- K — Is it Kind?
Reporting Cruelty and Pressure
If you see online cruelty, a fake rumor, or someone pressuring a friend, you do not have to handle it alone. Telling a trusted adult is not snitching — it is protecting people.
- Do not reply to the bully; save the evidence (screenshot the message or post).
- Tell a trusted adult: parent, grandparent, coach.
- With a trusted grown-up, use the report or block button on the platform.
- Check on the person who was hurt — a private kind message helps.
Public, Private, and Consent
- Private: full name, address, birthday, password, phone number, photos of you, usual hangouts, money info.
- OK to share carefully: first name, hobbies, art or projects you are proud of.
- Consent first: ask before posting a photo or chat that includes someone else.
Words to know
footprint
The trail of everything you post, send, or share online.
citizen
A member of a community who behaves with respect and responsibility — online too.
screenshot
A captured picture of a screen — even messages that "disappear" can be screenshotted.
private
Information you should keep to yourself or only share with parents.
kind
Words and actions that respect and help the people around you.
Tip: when you are angry online, wait at least an hour before you reply. Strong feelings make it easy to post words you later regret.
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