The internet is a weird place. In its early years, its curious openness, illicit backstreets, and raucous (and sometimes horrifying) behavioral norms felt like a curiosity, a foreign land that users could dip into (and out of) when they felt like it. Most educators are old enough to remember when the internet was distinct from everyday life and could be turned off at will. As networked technology has pervaded every part of our daily lives, this relationship has fundamentally shifted. Digital citizenship education hasn't kept up with the rapid pace of change, and it generally still reflects a previous era in which the internet was, for many people, a fun way to communicate with friends and shop. We need a broader approach to digital citizenship-one that looks beyond communication and safety to empower students and help them develop the skills, knowledge, and critical perspectives necessary to understand, challenge, and improve our digital society.
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