Digital Smarts: Behaving Ethically Online

Gr 7 Up—Guidelines for ethical online behavior are outlined in seven chapters that cover respecting privacy and reputation, lying about who you are, cyberbullying and harassment, plagiarism, piracy, and developing a personal online code of ethics. Although teens are growing up in a digital world, they are strikingly unaware of the consequences of their online actions. A diverse group of students are interviewed about issues they have had and their thoughts about ethical online behavior. They explain that the anonymity of online harassment makes it so dangerous. The teens discuss the reasons for plagiarism and admit that students frequently plagiarize in an effort to save time. They also state that students generally make the assumption that anything online is "free game." A songwriter is interviewed about online piracy's effect on artists. In the final section, guidelines are given for creating an online code of ethics. These guidelines include respect, staying true to oneself, following the golden rule, and being aware that stealing is never acceptable. The program can be viewed as a whole, or sections can be used individually. This excellent program provides valuable and timely information in an engaging and appealing format.—Lisa Hubler, Charles F. Brush High School, Lyndhurst, OH