By Mike S. Ribble, Ed.D.
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Social networks such as Facebook and Twitter have changed the way that many people communicate. Mobile devices and smartphones have provided opportunities to stay in contact with others as well as share information as it happens. While online social networks can provide this space to explore and express ideas anytime and anywhere, they can also be used to victimize just about anyone.

Cyberbullying is gaining more attention in the press. And these issues are intensified by the current lack of knowledge and understanding about this online environment, as educators, law enforcement, and parents are now realizing.

Bullying is not limited to teens and young adults who have been marginalized by society; anyone who works or plays online can be a target. Extreme cases which have ended in suicide put a new view on the cyberbullying problem. These issues are now part of the public arena and have prioritized the topic of social networking use and misuse as a concern for everyone.

Traditional schoolyard bullying prevention has been a task of school leaders for many decades. Now, with the growth of and interest in social networks like Facebook, cyberbullying has been added as an additional issue for educators and parents.

Discussions between home and schools have begun on how best to protect students. In this new millennium, educational leaders have added responsibility as protectors of students both in the online world and in the real world. While the method of bullying has moved to digital spaces, the issue is still one of ethical treatment of others. While technology provides users with many benefits, they must be taught about appropriate use of these technologies.

Nine Elements of Digital Citizenship
One method of helping these groups is to present the concept of digital citizenship. The purpose of digital citizenship is to teach all users of technology to use technology in a responsible way. Gerald Bailey and I have defined nine elements of focus within the concept of digital citizenship.

• Digital Etiquette
• Digital Access
• Digital Law
• Digital Communication
• Digital Literacy
• Digital Commerce
• Digital Rights and Responsibilities
• Digital Security
• Digital Health and Welfare

Elements such as Digital Rights and Responsibilities (which includes reporting incidents to responsible people) and Digital Etiquette (understanding that there is another person on the other side of that online account) help define when and how to use social networks, but they are not the only focus. All nine elements can help shed additional light and build an understanding of these issues. These elements provide a foundation for use of digital technologies in an ever-increasing online world.

Now is the time for school leaders to provide leadership in this digital age and embed some type of technology responsibility program, such as digital citizenship, into the curriculum.  Educators must become technologically literate to help and protect members of the school community. No matter what type of program it is--or what it is called--educational leaders must make sure that students within their schools are safe. It is the responsibility of all educators to provide the skills to live and thrive in the real world. Working alongside schools, parents and guardians need to understand these issues as well, in order to help their children.

The skills of technological use cover many more functions than merely knowing how to participate in social networks. Educators must address the issues of cyberbullying and help students develop the skills they will need to take personal responsibility for themselves. And on a larger scale, everyone must understand and address these issues now, with appropriate changes occurring within our schools, homes, and society.