Once it's out there, it's out there for good.

In the digital world, statements, actions, ideas, mistakes, and opinions continue to exist long after one has orignially posted, blogged, tweeted, etc.  Once it's out there, it's out there for good.  Our last class featured discussion of the responsibility that comes with digital citizenship.  This particular topic has been of interest to me for some time, perhaps, because I am a social studies teacher and much of my education has been around the study of records and past events.  One does not need to look for too long before finding some recent example of the power and permaneance of digital expression. 

Just last week, a UCLA student created an uproar on campus through her You Tube posting.  This New York Times article explains the details further.  Bascially, the female student was annoyed at Asian students distracting her in the library.  Some of Asian students could be overheard during phone calls to Japan to check on family members affected by the tsunami.  The backlash from students and the community has been heated. 

Also recently, MSNBC featured an article about Americans' opinions towards privacy online.  I cannot decide exactly why I am surprised by the research, which indicates that citizens are becoming more polarized in there opinons on the matter.  The numbers of people having less reservation and much reservation are increasing, while the middle ground is shrinking. 

Tom, a classmate, showed our class a site called spokeo.com, which illustrates the powerful ways our digital footprint exists.  The information found there is strikingly intimate and personal.  I recommend every adult cheic it out. 

This is the society in which our students are growing up.  So how are we to educate them about responsible digital citizenship?

Resources such as netsmartz.org have videos geared towards guiding students and parents to be safe in the digital age.  The videos are well-produced and appealing.  I recommend them for anyone, adult or youth, to become educated on the dangers of the internet. 

Another effective strategy is one suggested by another classmate, Shaun.  He has worked in a school where important messages were announced during popular and well-attended school events: sporting events and theater productions.  This seems like a very direct way to speak to parents about how important their child's respect for the internet is.

It seems to me that responsible use and behavior online is in the early stages of development as a cultural norm.  My concern is how we responsibly educate ourselves and, in turn, our students about the new and emerging ways to act considering the pace of change these days.