- Digital Access: digital access is defined as being an individual who participates in digital society. When individuals have access to technology they can fully participate in the digital society. Digital access makes the use of ICTs (information and communication technologies) easier, which creates a world of learning, working and communicating through technology. Digital access brings many benefits, socially and economically, for individuals businesses and even the government.
The issue with digital Access is that many individuals do not have access to technology and thus have a disadvantage. Without the open access to the digital community individuals can lose business opportunities as well as opportunities to improve their skills.
- Digital communication: Digital communications is defined as the exchange of communication or knowledge through technology. The phrase, “just google it,” has become common knowledge. We as a society communicate mostly through social media and technology in general.
Then again the issue with this type of communication is the miss use or non-existent netiquette.
The digital community can give less outgoing individuals a place to communicate and be themselves it is also a fast and effective way of sending messages.
- Digital Literacy: can be defined as the way individuals collect information and create a message through technology. Individuals need a certain amount of skill level to be able to create and communicate certain information. Search engines, website verification, website purposes and media fluency is a big part of digital literacy.
Unfortunately not everyone is digitally literate.
- Digital Etiquette: Netiquette is the basic rules and guidelines of how to act in the digital community and how to respect others on the platform. The way we act on the internet impacts not just us but everyone on the platform as well. Communication is 55% body language, 38% tone of voice and 7% words, this means that without netiquette misunderstanding can occur and create conflict and other issues.
Many individuals say that they trust products more due to positive reviews.
- Digital security: When being an individual on the internet we need to take care of ourselves and others.
Usually the individuals with less digital skills and who are younger are more susceptible to falling victim to financial loss, physical and mental harm. One of the biggest issues to a computer is malware which is software that is used to compromise compute functions to steal data. Advertisements, bots that steal information, bugs that bypass security on computers, viruses and theft scams. Other threats towards our mental health as a digital society is online grooming of young individuals, sexual comments, sexting and online stalking. There are however ways to protect ourselves for example: running software updates regularly, secure the cloud, maintain secure passwords, protecting sensitive files, remaining anonymous as well as running HTTPS protocols.
6. Digital rights/responsibility: Because the interne does not have specific organizations or constitution that governs it. Privileges and freedom to all digital technology users. Businesses use e-marketing and e-business strategies, through this they have the responsibility to sell ethical products legally. We also have the responsibility to access products that are available ethically. We also have a responsibility of ethical and legal use of information to avoid plagiarism. We also have a right towards ourselves and others to responsibly use technology.
7. Digital law: We as individuals apart of the digital community have the responsibility for our actions, ethical or unethical. Laws on privacy, cyber stalking and cyber tourism. We give out our personal information, businesses give out our personal information, data mining. Websites track our online behavior through the use of cookies. We have the right to privacy of personal expression. Using technology in an acceptable and appropriate manner.
8. Digital commerce: is defined as,” electronic selling and buying of goods and services through the internet. It is a cheaper and more efficient way of distributing products and services. Although we as consumers need to be informed consumers through making higher quality investments, ethical investments and responsible investments.
9. Digital health/wellness: The overuse of technology. We have to look at the overuse of technology and through that at ergonomics. Ergonomics is defined as the, “science of designing environments and products to match individuals who use the.” For example: chairs that have adjustable backs, raised keyboards. The physiological effects that technology has on us is; carpel tunnel and eye strain as well as obesity. The psychological issues are for example; addiction of using the internet, feeling disinhibited, cyber bullying and cyber stalking. Technology takes a physiological and psychological toile on us as individuals, we need to limit our time spend on technology (2015, IIE).
References;
Portal.iie.ac.za. (2019). [online] Available at: https://portal.iie.ac.za/Student%20Manuals/DIGC5110_Digital_Citizenship/2019/STManual.pdf
Rcsddigitalcitizenship.weebly.com. (2019). [online] Available at: http://rcsddigitalcitizenship.weebly.com/uploads/5/2/3/8/5238268/nine_elements_of_digital_citizenship.pdf
[Accessed 30 Sep. 2019].
Schoology.com. (2019). Digital Citizenship: Elements, Lessons, and Importance. [online] Available at: https://www.schoology.com/blog/digital-citizenship-elements-lessons-and-importance-0
[Accessed 30 Sep. 2019].
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