Once an expansive information highway, the internet has evolved into a congested stretch of road riddled with potholes and billboards as far as the eye can see.
While we wait for someone to deal with the crumbling infrastructure, we will need to protect ourselves and the other drivers sharing the road.
Each of us has a responsibility to be better digital citizens.
This involves actively participating in the digital world in a respectful, ethical, and knowledgeable manner.
It's about being aware of what you’re consuming and—I think this is critical—what you are putting out into the digital world.
Everyone should have a basic understanding of how they can reduce the risk of data exposure, diversify and verify the integrity of sources, control their reactions, demand transparency from companies, and explore alternative solutions and new innovations.
It's essential for individuals to possess a foundational knowledge on minimizing their data exposure risks, critically assessing and corroborating information sources, managing their responses to digital content, advocating for transparency from corporations, and actively seeking out novel solutions and innovations.
So, how do we cut through the noise and engage with the digital world more responsibly?
It starts with developing better habits—ones that help us think critically, act intentionally, and protect both ourselves and others online.
Here are five essential precautions to keep in mind:
The 5 Standard Digital Precautions
Be Curious
Let curiosity, not assumptions or knee-jerk reactions, guide online exchanges.
Ask What > Why questions. “What is the source of this information?” “What is the intent of the person behind this content” “What if this were true? What if it wasn’t?” “What would it mean to share this?”
Verify Before You Trust
Carefully evaluate sources and evidence across multiple credibility points. Remember, you can always find some content to validate your beliefs or opinion. Just because you believe it to be true, doesn’t always mean it is.
Give it a Beat
Pause. Take a breath. Slow down. Technology has made us more impulsive. But even though we can like, share, purchase, block, report, and send with a click, doesn’t always mean we should.
Give yourself a moment to pause and consider that every small action can snowball into something significant. Share consciously and ethically.
Check Yourself
It’s easy to get worked up online. Algorithms are programmed to curate our online experience, finding patterns in our online behavior and using this to keep us engaged. This is done by tapping into our base emotions and deeply rooted biases.
If you start getting frustrated, angry, or overwhelmed by some post or online troll, take a pause.
Seriously, phone down, hands up! Take a breath.
What triggered you? What challenged you? What ignited something in you? How did that happen? Could you recognize it if it were to happen again?
The feeling is important, but the anonymous online troll (which is probably a bot) isn’t. You’re better off going for a walk.
Consent is Sexy
Data is the real currency. You sure you want to give yours away?
Before you sign up, agreeing to terms and conditions, you might want to see what information you’re giving away. There is a price to personalization and convenience.
Safeguard your personal data and opt out of tracking online and off. This includes biometric data like your face (TSA facial screening is voluntary!), voice, retina scan, and other unique identifiers.
Get consent from others before sharing images or personal info online or using generative A.I. tools.
Pro Tip: Copy and paste Terms and Conditions into an LLM like ChatGPT. Ask it to summarize and identify anything regarding your personal information or intellectual property.
The internet isn’t going to fix itself, and neither is our approach to digital engagement. AI may amplify existing problems, but at the end of the day, we are the ones shaping the digital world—through what we share, how we interact, and the standards we uphold.
Being a responsible digital citizen isn’t about perfection; it’s about awareness, intention, and accountability. Small choices, like questioning sources, pausing before reacting, and safeguarding personal data, add up.
The tools to navigate this space exist. The real question is: will we use them?
BONUS FIVE
We must be critical thinkers as we navigate the digital landscape - overflowing with noise, misinformation, and slops.
Here are 5 essential questions, adapted from Grant Wiggins' The Futility of Trying to Teach Everything of Importance (1989), to help you suss out the facts from fiction.
The 5 Questions from The Futility of Trying to Teach Everything of Importance (1989) by Grant Wiggins
Whose voice am I hearing? From where is the statement or image coming? What’s the point of view?
What is the evidence? How do we know? How credible is the evidence?
How do things fit together? What else do I know that fits with this?
What if? Could it have been otherwise? Are there alternatives?
What difference does it make? Who cares? Why should I care?
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