Courtesy online
Check before you post, share or reply.
What do you ask first?
Before you post something in a group chat, which question is best to ask yourself?
What this lesson covers
The idea
Being courteous online means checking that what you post or share is kind, safe, true and yours to share.
What do you ask first?
Before you post something in a group chat, which question is best to ask yourself?
- How many likes will it get?
- Would it feel kind and safe if the person saw it?
- Are most of my friends doing it too?
Kind and safe, or think again?
These are things children might do online. Tap a group. Read the reason, then press Next card.
Four quick checks
Every card you sent to the second bin failed at least one check. It was unkind, unsafe, untrue, or not yours to share. The good cards passed all four.
If something does go wrong, you can still put it right: delete it, say sorry, and tell a trusted adult.
Before you post or share, ask: is it kind, safe, true, and mine to share?
Using technology in this safe and respectful way is called being a good digital citizen.
Notes
Before you post or share, ask: is it kind, safe, true, and mine to share?
Kind, safe, true, mine to share. If something goes wrong, put it right and tell a trusted adult.
Check yourself
A classmate keeps sending you unkind private messages after a quarrel. What should you do?
Asha gets a message in a group: "Free recharge for everyone! Click here and type your family's bank details." What should she do?
You sent an unkind comment on a friend's post when you were angry. Others have already seen it. What should you do?
- Reply with equally harsh messages, so that they learn a lesson. Harsh replies feed the quarrel and can make things worse. Two unkind messages do not make a kind one.
- Delete the messages and keep the whole thing to yourself. Deleting leaves you carrying it alone, and nothing is left to show anyone. Keep them and tell a trusted adult.
- Do not reply, keep the messages, and show a trusted adult — correct. Yes. Not replying keeps you calm, and the saved messages let a trusted adult see what happened and help.
- Click the link at once, before the free offer runs out. Offers that rush you are a common trick. Typing bank details into a link can cause real loss.
- Do not click or forward it, and show a trusted adult — correct. Yes. A trusted adult can check if it is real, and you keep your friends safe too.
- Forward it to her friends, so they get the offer too. Passing it on spreads the trick to more people. Check a message before you forward it.
- Delete it, say sorry, and tell a trusted adult if it spread — correct. Yes. Putting it right takes courage. An adult can help if many people saw it.
- Say it was only a joke and hope that it is forgotten. Calling it a joke does not take away the hurt. Your friend can still see it.
- Close your account so that nobody can find your comment. Hiding does not repair anything. Your friend still deserves a kind sorry.