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Digital Citizenship Responsibilities

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Digital Citizenship Responsibilities

Read the short case study, then complete the activities. Think about how online choices affect people, communities and shared spaces. For written responses, explain your reasoning and use evidence from the case where you can.

Case study: The Harbour Hub

A local youth group uses an online community page to organise a weekend beach clean-up. Maia sees a post claiming that the council has cancelled the event because the beach is unsafe. The post has no source, and several people have started sharing it. Maia checks the council’s official website and finds that the event is still on; the notice actually warns people to avoid one small area while maintenance is happening. In the comments, someone posts a screenshot that includes another young person’s phone number and makes a cruel joke about them. Maia wants to correct the rumour and help the person targeted, but she does not want to make the situation worse.

Understand responsibilities

1.Which action best shows responsible digital citizenship when Maia sees the cancellation claim?

Share it quickly so people can decide for themselves.
Check a reliable source before sharing, then correct the claim with accurate information.
Assume it is true because several people have shared it.
Reply with an insulting comment to the person who posted it.

2.Select the two details that make the original cancellation post worth checking before it is shared.

The post has no source.
Several people are sharing the post.
The beach is near the sea.
The post is short.

3.Match each responsibility to the way it could help the Harbour Hub community.

Check information before sharing
Protect someone’s personal information
Report cruel or harmful content
Respond respectfully

Reduces the risk of unwanted contact or exposure
Keeps discussion constructive, even when people disagree
Helps moderators respond and can limit further harm
Helps prevent a rumour from misleading people

4.The screenshot includes a young person’s phone number. What should Maia do with the screenshot, and why? Give two sensible steps.

5.True or false: Because the event is public, it is acceptable for Maia to share the screenshot containing the phone number if she adds a warning.

TrueFalse

Decide, explain and contribute

6.Write a short, calm correction Maia could post. It should give accurate information without shaming anyone.

7.Explain one way Maia’s actions could affect the wider community, and one possible effect if she does nothing.

8.In your own words, connect kaitiakitanga—guardianship and care for people and places—to responsible behaviour in an online community. Include one practical example.

9.A classmate says, “If a post is already online, sharing it again does not matter.” Give a reasoned response that challenges or supports this claim. Refer to one responsibility from the case study.

10.Design a simple symbol or mini-poster that would remind members of an online community to act responsibly. Add a short slogan and include at least two ideas, such as checking facts, respecting others, protecting privacy or reporting harm.

Use this space for your symbol or mini-poster.