Digital citizens

The current generation of adolescents has grown up with technology and in particular computers to support almost every aspect of living, from communicating with friends to supporting their education. However, at this age, the young person ceases to rely on parents to set the rules and keep them safe online, they become a truly digital citizen. This relies on the adolescent developing an ability to use the technology sensibly and safely.

It’s often in adolescence where the joy and frustrations of shopping, or finding a job advert and replying to it can bring the most problems. Being safe online is often aimed at the young child, but it needs to be reiterated to the adolescent. The adolescent may think they're safe, but have they set their security levels, are they able to assess and evaluate websites and are they trusting websites that may be fraudulent and which may use their personal information without permission?

The impulsive, risk taking adolescent may not consider the consequences of sending or posting images of themselves or friends on a website, or of responding harshly to another person’s message. Naivety is soon destroyed if, or when their information is used against their will.

Which of these is considered safe? Drag each to the appropriate box.