This is the first of our ongoing #digiwishes campaign, inspired by our Holiday Protection Package Wishlist. We'll be asking digital experts to tell us their Digital Wishes for a safer, saner, and kinder online world. We are honored to have Sue Scheff, a tireless advocate for online kindness, as our first featured blogger! Here is her wish:
Today we live in a world where the majority of people, young and not so young, are hooked on some type of gadget.
From infants and toddlers being handed their parents’ mobile devices for entertainment, to elementary school children having their own iPads, and tweens and teens proudly attached to their smartphones -- we are all digitally connected in one way or another.
This gives us the opportunity to give back in the cyber-world!
No matter how old you are, you can be a cyber advocate for others.
You don't need a high school diploma (this doesn't mean drop out of school!); you don't need a four-year degree (this doesn't mean you won't someday need a higher education); you don't even need vocational school.
What do you need to become a cyber advocate besides being digitally connected?
You need to understand that we are always learning from one another, as cyber-advocates, we are also there for each other in many ways. For example,
If you see a nasty comment about someone or an embarrassing photo, put a stop to it. Don't fuel it.
If mom, grandma or a younger sibling needs to learn a new feature on their phone, teach it to them.
If you’re a parent unfamiliar with, say, Snapchat, ask your child to teach you more about the app.
You Need the 3-C's of Social Online Behavior:
1. Conduct: How you conduct yourself offline should be the same as how you treat others online, no matter what device you are using. Whether you are texting, sending an email or posting on a social media platform, be sure you implement the digital etiquette of pausing before sending any electronic messages. Adults: Lead by example.
2. Contacts: De-clutter your email banks and friends lists by limiting your contacts. It's not about quantity, it's about quality., especially if you are someone who frequently shares personal photos and information. Even with privacy settings set, know who your friends and family are. Take the time to recreate your lists with select contacts.
3. Compassion: Last, but most important, is compassion and empathy. Without these you don't belong online. As a cyber advocate having compassion is a priority. When you witness someone having an ugly day, reach out with cyber-smile or simply be the digital communicator that lets them know you are there for them. A cyber advocate is someone who has your back and who you can turn to for any issue--small or large--and receive compassion and empathy, without judgment, in return.
Becoming a cyber advocate is more than sharing skills like “stop, block and tell” if you are being harassed.
It's about saying, "Hey, I'm here for you."
My digital wish is that we start seeing more cyber advocates in the New Year!
Co-author of Google Bomb: The Untold Story of the $11.3M Verdict That Changed the Way We Use the Internet, Sue Scheff is a strong proponent of proactively protecting oneself online. First published in 2009, Google Bomb draws from Sue Scheff’s personal experiences with online bullying, privacy invasion, and harassment, as well as the legal recourse available, to provide readers with the tools they need to protect their personal and professional reputations online.
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OUR #DIGIWISH FOR YOU?
That You Get the Holiday Protection Package for Those That You Love:
We’ve made it EASY for parents and grandparents to give the gift of protection to the families (and schools!) they love this holiday season by following these three easy steps:
