4 Digital Dos

Be careful of what you share. Comments, social media posts, photos, and anything else you share online is not guaranteed to be protected from online predators or hackers, even if you’re sharing only to specific people on password-protected sites. Post only things you’d be ok with everyone you know seeing.

1. Treat others the way you want to be treated. This sounds pretty basic, but it’s probably the one piece of digital etiquette advice that is broken the most. Keep your comments positive; be truthful, and polite. If you want to go the extra mile, acknowledge when someone has been helpful; thank them, and pay it forward!
2. Be safe. Being safe online is a whole topic in itself, much different from being a good digital citizen—and with much different ramifications. It’s crucial not divulge any personal information, passwords, addresses, etc. with someone you don’t know. 
3. Know the rules. Whether you’re using classroom forums, Twitter, Facebook, or other sites, know the site’s rules and guidelines—and follow them. Each community creates their own rules that they expect users to follow, which can usually be found in the “Site Rules” or “About Us” section.
4. Be vigilant. If you saw something happen in real life where someone could be harmed, you’d call for help, right? If you see something online that may be harmful to someone else, report it to the site’s authorities or an adult you trust. With cyberbullying and online predators, we cannot be too careful these days, and we all need to look out for each other.

5 Digital Don'ts

1. Don’t say anything online you wouldn’t say to someone’s face. An online comment can be even more hurtful than a face-to-face insult, because once something is written the person can read it over and over again.Sometimes we find it easier to reply with negative comments when the person is not right in front of you and you can hide behind your computer or smartphone. Don’t be tempted; think twice about what you are saying before you post or send, and ask yourself, “Would I say this to someone if they were standing in front of me?”
2. Don’t share anything you don’t own, without permission. All content was created by someone, and that person owns their content. This includes articles (and ANY portion of articles), photos, memes, reports, blogs, and anything else online that wasn’t created by you. Be aware of copyright laws, ask permission before you share, and be sure to give credit if you reuse or repost an article or picture you didn’t create.
3. Don’t believe everything you read. Not everything online is true. In fact, there’s a lot online that’s not true. Before believing (or sharing!), dig deeper. Search for facts. Just because it’s written online doesn’t mean it’s true.
4. Don’t post anything that you don’t want to last forever. Before you say or post anything online, ask yourself, “Am I ok if this is never deleted?”. Once something is out there online, it is likely it’s out there for good. There is no delete button or eraser for the Internet.
5. Don’t spend all of your free time online. The Internet is an amazing place with lots to offer. As with all things that provide an “outlet”, moderation is important. Don’t forget that the real world, real people, and real human interaction provide a lot of lessons and experiences, too!