DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP
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In the contemporary world, we live in a digital society that has become a significant concern for administrators, teachers, parents, and students. The global COVID-19 pandemic necessitated that citizens across the globe start practicing social and physical distance. Most of the digital citizenship elements still run since breaking the pandemic, with some playing a part as the most important ones. Due to the pandemic, Public gatherings and businesses where several people could meet were closed. Digital Access is an important element as Institutions that were not well familiar with the technology were suddenly tasked with shifting from school-based learning to online classes. To slow the pandemic, the government also called on all citizens to play a part in stopping the spread of the virus and preventing deaths by practicing online shopping, hence making digital commerce a significant element in digital citizenship during this period. The government encourages citizens to buy and sell goods and services through the internet to avoid physical meet-ups, which is a headlock of the spread of the deadly virus. (“Nine Elements of Digital Citizenship – Mike Ribble”, 2021). Through Digital Health and wellness, people need to understand the importance of controlled use of technology and know the side-effects of too much engagement with it. In the digital health and wellness element of citizenship, consumers can educate themselves on the possible side effects of using technology, both emotional and physical impacts (“Nine Elements of Digital Citizenship – Mike Ribble”, 2021). Citizens might witness or be targets of cyberbullying based on misconceptions about COVID-19. Through digital Etiquette, citizens understand the importance of proper and appropriate use of online content creation. Digital Etiquette teaches one to treat others according to how one would like to be treated, making it one of the most important digital citizenship elements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Sherry Turkle’s Ted talk, she clarifies how technology is taking the place of meaningful, true human interactions. She explains to the audience that people worldwide, including herself, feel that texts are heartfelt conversations (“Nine Elements of Digital Citizenship – Mike Ribble”, 2021). From Turkles’ speech we learn that she is elaborating about the digital health and awareness element of digital citizenship where users need to be acknowledged about the physical and emotional dangers of being glue too much to technology platforms. People are too afraid to face the actual, real-life conversations as has therefore developed an intimate relationship with the tech that has helped them achieve the concept(“Nine Elements of Digital Citizenship – Mike Ribble”, 2021). I agree with Sheery Turkle because I see many people each day surfing the web and texting during class, meeting, and funeral gatherings’ think she is entirely right in waiting for people, families, and teens to connect with significant conversations. Through the pandemic, I couldn’t attend face-to-face classes, making it challenging to participate in and understand practical courses that require lab practices. After face-to-face schooling was banned in my state, I could no longer practice basketball with other players as I’m used to, which has dramatically affected my skills. My life could have been entirely different from today if I did not have access to technology. Technology has made life easy and enjoyable for me as I can play video games after work and class relatives from foreign countries without much ease. Through access to technology, I can securely store bulky data in specific platforms such as the cloud. My engagement and interest in classes involving technology are imaginable. Tech boosts my classroom participation, which is an essential factor for increased knowledge retention. It also encourages my learning skills through exploration and research in the various websites in the search engines. Technology is indeed a stronghold of many’s livelihoods and a ruin to those who don’t use it wisely.
References
Nine Elements of Digital Citizenship – Mike Ribble. (2021). Retrieved 3 February 2021, from https://choraltech.wordpress.com/nine-elements-of-digital-citizenship-mike-ribble/