Internet and Social Media Savvy

Becoming a digital citizen

Build your future in the digital world

Web Rangers is an international digital literacy programme, implemented right here in South Africa to help young people navigate the digital challenges and grab online opportunities. It aims to improve digital literacy skills, helping you develop your own capabilities and become an active digital citizen who contributes to the development of this country. Phakamile Khumalo is the Web Rangers public and media skills development manager. She share some tips to help you navigate the ever-changing digital landscape, empower you to use the internet and social media safely and responsibly, and help you build your future in the digital world!

The world you live in isn’t the same one that your parents grew up in, and while this means you’re faced with challenges that they never had to deal with, it also means you have opportunities that they never dreamed of!

Becoming a digital citizen As you prepare for your future, it’s important to understand that there are ways in which you can use the internet and social media to further your passion and your dreams, while promoting the advocacy work of keeping other young people safe online. You can do this by being a digital citizen! Web Rangers, in partnership with Media Monitoring Agency (MMA), Google South Africa, the Film and Publications Board (FPB), MTN, DTPS and Diana Schwartz Attorneys, is designed to empower the youth to become digital citizens who know how to use the Internet responsibly and encourage others to do the same. It is a digital literacy programme designed to allow young people to gain critical skills and knowledge around online safety. This is used to create innovative campaigns that promote safe internet usage and champion their rights in the digital world. The Web Rangers programme is open to South African school learners between 12 and 17 years old.

Let’s get started!

Your digital footprint is the mark that you leave behind when using the internet and it can shape your online reputation The Protection from Harassment Act provides protection to those who are victimised or harassed, both offline and online. You can go to court and get a protection order under this law, even if you don’t know who the person that is bullying you is

Digital citizenship is made up of two words: ‘digital’ and ‘citizenship’.

Digital means the use of digital technology. Citizenship means being a member of and supporting one’s community and country.

Digital citizenship is using the internet and social media platforms in a way that is ethical and reflects your rights and responsibilities. Active digital citizens have online social skills that allow them to use technology in a fun, safe, responsible and respectful way within the digital community.

The story of your digital footprint Almost everything we do communicates a message, whether it’s on WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram - even the videos you upload on YouTube or TikTok. When we look at all these messages, it all tells the story of your DIGITAL FOOTPRINT! Managing your digital footprint • Pay careful attention to what you say in your email, texts and social media posts. • Pay careful attention to what you ‘like’ or ‘share’ on social media and online. • Before you post, think about what information to share, where to share it and how to share it (what platform, what medium, what format, what tone?). • Read the fine print (privacy policies and terms) before clicking ‘agree’.

Personal Information and Privacy Online As a young person online, there is a certain pressure to be visible and have your information out there so people can get to know you better. This can be a problem when you put your safety at risk by not protecting your privacy on the internet. Below are ways you can protect your privacy online. Identity thieves, scam artists, debt collectors, stalkers, and corporations looking for a market advantage are using social networks to gather information about consumers.

Personal information you should never share on social media:

• Your name • Race • Gender • Identity number • The school you attend • Where you live

Remember the following 3 Ws:

1WHO? Who is asking for this information?

Do you really know them or could they be pretending to be someone else?

2WHAT? What are they asking foar?

STOP if it is your personal information.

3WHY? Why do they need it?

Cyber ills and their impact on youth Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place online using electronic technology, like cell phones, computers and tablets, as well as communication tools like social media sites, text messages, chats and websites.

While cyberbullying is similar to ‘real life’ bullying it differs in the following ways: • It can occur 24/7 and you can be targeted even when at home. • It can involve harmful material being widely and quickly sent to a large audience. For example, rumours and humiliating pictures can be posted on public forums or sent in group chats. • It can provide the bully with a sense of relative anonymity and distance from the target. So there is a lack of immediate feedback, consequences or accountability.

Cyber stalking is just like stalking in real life - someone watches your actions on social media and can see where you are going or find your location. They may even create a fake profile to become your friend on social media.

Online grooming is when an adult forms a relationship with a child or younger person with the intent of later having sexual contact or committing other crimes. This can take place in chat rooms, on instant messaging platforms or on social networking sites. The ultimate goal of the ‘groomer’ is to arrange an in-person meeting to engage in sexual relations with the child or teen! Sexting is the act of sending sexually explicit images, text messages and videos of either yourself or other people. We encourage people to use the term Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), instead of child pornography

A catfish is someone who creates a false online identity. Catfishing is common on social networking and online dating sites. Sometimes a catfish’s sole purpose is to engage in a fantasy, but sometimes the catfish’s intent is to defraud a victim, seek revenge or commit identity theft.

So you have sent nude pics. What now? Try having an honest conversation with the person you sent the image to. Ask them to delete the pictures. The quicker you’re able to do this the better. You can’t control what someone will do with an image, but having an honest conversation can help to prevent the picture being spread further.

Online stalking should be referred directly to the police

The Films and Publications Act 1996 regards sexting as a serious sexual offence, and classified it as child pornography when minors are involved

Important resources

• The film and publication board has a hotline that you can call anonymously to report child pornography, sexual abuse & exploitation on the internet.

Phone 0800148148.

• Hashplay online game. Hashplay (https://game.hashplay.co.za/) is designed to help people make informed decisions online and provides guidance on ways to protect yourself online.

• Auntinet. MMA’s social media agony aunt, otherwise known as

Auntienet, was created to listen and help you. #Auntienet is here to lend an ear and assist you with all the problems and challenges you encounter online.

You can access it here: https:// hashplay.co.za/info/social-mediaagony-aunt-2/

• To find out more about how you can stay safe, visit our

Web Rangers website on www. webrangers.co.za or chat to our Web Rangers team on webrangerssa@gmail.com

Potential employers as well as bursary institutions might reference public information across social media platforms for a background or consistency check. You need to ensure that your social media footprint strengthens your personal brand instead of causing damage and questioning your ethics and integrity. Effective navigation of social media can and will open up a magnitude of career opportunities.

AND YOUR CAREER

How can social media promote my personal brand?

It all starts by executing a safe, effective and consistent digital presence. Personal and professional barriers are blurred on a daily basis when it comes to our personal brands vs professional careers, when we interact in the digital space. It is crucial to start building a professional digital presence as well as be digitally active in order to establish an online personal portfolio and brand. You need to ensure that your integrity and ethics are maintained, protected and promoted across all the integrated digital applications, tools, platforms and networks. The ultimate outcome is to establish digital credibility that would operate similar to real currency. Purposefully managing your digital footprint establish a secure and credible network of connections and content to drive, steer and grow your career.

It is critical to start establishing a credible network as early as possible and continue to nurture and expand your digital social network. It is through this network that you will engage regarding bursaries, internships, learnerships, volunteer work, extra credit field projects, student exchange programmes and yes, your first job. This network of professionals can include teachers, mentors, life coaches, sport coaches, study groups, sports clubs, family and friends. For example, when you join a volunteer group for a project, ensure that you share social media contacts with same minded individuals in the project. Be active in your digital community. You’ll be surprised how many doors community members can open for you.

One of your most significant digital networking applications to utilise would be LinkedIn. You need to join this networking application as soon as possible. It will guide you through a magnitude of business and professional information, potential employers, mentors, study and career growth opportunities. The networking pool for LinkedIn is sitting at 750 million members. It allows business professionals access to insights, share business ideas, networking groups and career opportunities. Job seekers create and post their digital CV’s whilst employers are posting job opportunities.

It is considered more professional to send a personalised introductory note with your LinkedIn Connect request. Once the person accepted your request to connect, you should send a followup message to start networking or connecting. You can also use LinkedIn to follow companies and brand ambassadors, thereby learning from them but also getting exposed to a wider networking pool. If you are not a LinkedIn member yet, please click visit https://linkedin.com to sign up and follow the prompts. You can also download the LinkedIn app from the Play Store or Apple Store on your smartphone.

Twitter is another useful social media tool for job seekers as well as recruiters. Twitter is not just about the latest social scene trends. It’s a professional network giving you direct access to many career opportunities. This includes topics such as bursaries, volunteering, internships and learnerships. You can search for tweets promoting job vacancies, follow industries of interest or preferred employers, even mentors and industry captains. Common hashtags that can be used for job hunting are: #jobs #jobsearch #vacancies #hireme #jobhunt #internship #bursaries.