Digital Citizenship, Ethics, and Netiquette Technologies

     Digital citizenship is an important protocol for users in this technology age.  Being responsible and behaving appropriately are key elements for using technology available today.  These elements span across all ages from children to adults.  Nine themes of digital citizenship were identified.  They include digital access, commerce, communication, literacy, etiquette, law, rights & responsibilities, health & wellness, and digital security (Ribble, n.d.).  There are many technologies that exists to support these themes.  I will explore technologies related to digital etiquette and digital security.

     Digital etiquette, also known as netiquette, are guidelines that dictate desired behaviors when communicating on the internet (Robyler & Doering, 2010).
     BrainPOP (brainpop.com/technology/digitalcitizenship) is a website that was founded by a pediatrician who felt that children needed a digital resource to help them understand difficult subjects.  While this site covers a variety of subjects one of its core focuses is on digital etiquette.  Topics include online safety, email and IM, social networking, and cyberbullying (BrainPOP, n.d.).  I chose this site due to the unique approach that has been chosen to deliver these important topics to learners.  It is extremely engaging.  The activities include a short movie, quiz, challenge, and additional activities. The site also provides a special section for educators to help facilitate the use of these tools in the classroom.
     While the target audience of the site is children, the information available and how it is presented can be easily used by adults.  As a result, I would incorporate this site into my professional practice as a reminder that digital etiquette exists and should be followed.  I would also challenge learners to identify instances where they have encountered challenges to digital etiquette and how they overcame them.

     Digital security focuses on the precautions required to guarantee the users safety on the internet.  As responsible users, it is necessary to protect our information from outside forces that could cause harm or disruption (Ribble, n.d.).  This includes virus protection and overall internet security.
    McAfee (www.mcafee.com/consumer/en-us/store/m0/catalog.html?) offers a variety of products that include internet security, anti-virus protection, and total protection which includes both. This protection includes encryption software, parental controls, anti-SPAM, secure password key, safeguards identity and online transactions, permanently deletes sensitive digital files, and protection of all devices with one subscription (McAfee, 2016). Users can download the subscription online or purchase the software at a variety of retail locations.
     I chose this technology due to its ability to protect users information in multiple ways along with its ease of use.  In my professional practice, internet and data security are managed internally.  However, it is still important for us to educate learners about the pitfalls of SPAM and opening suspicious emails.  An educated workforce only further minimizes the risk to the organization.



References:

BrainPOP (n.d.). Digital Etiquette. Retrieved December 6, 2016,     

     from https://www.brainpop.com/technology/digitalcitizenship/

McAfee (2016). Intel Security. Retrieved from

     https://www.mcafee.com/consumer/en- us/store/m0/catalog.html?

Ribble, M. (n.d.). Nine elements: Nine themes of digital citizenship. Retrieved May
     30, 2012, from http://www.digitalcitizenship.net/Nine_Elements.html
Roblyer, M. D., & Doering, A. H. (2010). Netiquette: Rules of behavior on the

     Internet. Retrieved from http://www.education.com/reference/article/netiquette-

     rules-behavior-internet/