Digital Safety: Staying Safe Online

Can you imagine a world without technology? Technology has been advancing, and we don’t know what inventions technology creators have in store for us. Technology has impacted our lives. We transitioned from print to media, for entertainment, reading news, and communication. The means of technology has made our lives easier, such as paying bills online, shopping online, marketing your business online, catching up with old friends, and so forth. In addition, it is a great way for finding information, all in which you can get in a matter of minutes online. Nonetheless, we question whether or not what we do on the internet is safe?

The digital world pose numerous of risk factors in which we need to take precautions. Factors associated with the digital world are identity theft, identity fraud, viruses, and scams. The difference between identity theft is when a thief access your personal information to impersonate you. In other words, the thief creates multiple accounts under your name. This can also lead to gaining access and taking control of your existing accounts. Meanwhile, identity fraud is when a thief uses your details to create a fictitious person in order to defraud merchants. A thief/hacker only need to gather a few of your information, before they have enough to purloin your identity. Another precaution people in the digital world need to be aware of are viruses. Without a reliable antivirus protection, you’re at a risk for viruses. A virus is piece of code in which it is capable of coping itself and corrupting the system or destroying data. A scam is a dishonest scheme, fraud. Some scams that I have known of is "Win a free trip from United Airlines" and "Free tickets from Delta Airlines." Viruses and scams can be transmitted from instant messages, emails, documents, fake antivirus, flash drives, and the list continues. With multiple antivirus protection available, we can keep our computers safe from threats. According to, Stephen Balkam, CEO, Family Online Safety Institute, he stated that "The internet is no more a 'lawless jungle.' Everyone is free to say and type down whatever they want to say. However, sometimes what we post on the internet affects someone in the wrong way and cause them harm. Therefore, that is why there are laws and consequences built in for Fair User Practices and Copyright Issues, Digital Safety and Privacy, Cyber-bullying, and Phishing and Pharming.

The class covered: Fair User Practices and Copyright Issues, Digital Safety and Privacy, Cyber-bullying, and Phishing and Pharming. One thing they all have in common is harming people. Having the digital safety project has made me realized the importance of being aware of what we do on the internet. I know to only post or upload things you want people to see, like words of wisdom, how your day went, news information, and other positive post. While, I know to disregard posting negative and personal information on the web. The information presented on all topics were very informative and I have learned things I have not known before. I have gained vital knowledge on being digital safety, which I will teach to my students. My group, covered Cyber-bullying. Cyber bullying is type of bully that uses electronic to harass, intimidate, and cause harm to a person. We must always be cautious of what we say on the internet because we are unaware of how the person who we are talking to reacts. 
Children are utilizing technology, and I want to teach them to be safe online starting with Fair User Practice and Copyright, Digital Safety and Privacy, Cyber bullying, and lastly, Phishing and Pharming. As a future educator, I feel the need touch basis on these topics because it is crucial and to let my students understand the consequences of what will happen. I want to be a model to my students to practice digital safety and to express that once we post something online, it is up there for everyone to see, and we can't take back what we post.

In order to teach my students what is digital safety, I will define it in simple words in order for them to understand it. I could create handout for them based on all four topics and ask them to create skits. I will show my students these videos, especially since they are fit for the grade level I want to teach in. I feel that with these videos, my student will be keen to watching, comprehending, and learning what digital safety is and how we can be safe online. According to, Stephen Balkam, he expressed "we must take responsibility - to play our part - in creating a better, richer, more civil online experience than the one we have today" (2016). We should not be afraid to teach children what’s right and wrong, we must take initiative and be open and honest about the internet. As teachers, we need to talk, empower, and educate them. 

Overall, being aware of digital safety allows you to be mindful and what you post. We must think before we say something and think again before uploading it to the internet. The internet can serve as a powerful learning instrument and we must use it to it is advantage, in a good way though. We are all open to harm and threats. We all know it, but not everyone takes action. Having the knowledge of learning the four aspects presented, I am able to stray away from those threats and pass on my knowledge to students and everyone else. 

References: 

Balkam, S. (2016). Play Your Part For Safer Internet Day. Huffington Post. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/play-your-part-for-safer_b_9190526.html 

Balkam, S. (2014). Online safety: is the internet really a dangerous, lawless jungle for children? The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/aug/15/online-safety-internet-sexting-cyberbullying-children