Walk in the Clouds – The Digital Citizenship

“I grew up in a physical world, and I speak English. The next generation is growing up in a digital world, and they speak social.” – Angela Ahrendts, Businesswoman.

This was before April 2020. The invisible, elusive thing called Novel Corona Virus has declared new social rules. A uniform social survival code of conduct wiping away barriers of sex, creed, age, religion in one sweep. It is either equipping self with a digital citizenship to navigate through this new world or perish as an invalid. It has been an overnight revolution making digital transformation of the economy and society inevitable for survival.

What is Digital Citizenship?

The responsible use of the technology, internet and digital devices to socially engage with others. Simply put as S3 – Safe, Savvy, Social navigation in this Digital world. To be a Digital Citizens on e has to be to be Digitally Literate, having the capability to use the digital technology; knowing when and how to use it.

Let’s understand the 3Ss for easy acclimatizing in the new world.

S1 – SAFE

• Surfing through the internet is a habit of all Netizens. Surfing needs network connectivity. As a rule, avoid public networks. Even if you are using one avoid signing –in to any payment apps. Do not forget to sign-off before exiting the public network. Surfing further leads to unsafe sites, commonly called ‘Phishing’ or ‘Malware’ sites. These sites send a sticky cookie which wanders around your device and robs the data. To avoid being a victim, turn-on the default ‘Phishing& Malware’ detection on your browser.
• URL hijacking or Typosquatting is one more tactic used by the ‘Phishing’ or ‘Malware’ sites with misleading URL (Uniform Resource Locator) looking similar to authentic URLs. For example, www.amazon.com & www.amozon.com. One more tip is that the secure sites have a ‘lock’ sign preceding their URL.
• Forewarned is Forearmed principle – Another important aspect for keeping data safe is use of antivirus and setting password protection starting from the two factor authentication to Password recovery options.
• Practice Gadget Etiquette by treating your smart phone as your personal item like a toothbrush. Do not share it with anyone, especially with children.
• Follow the Law of the Land – In the Digital world, the governing law is the Information Technology Act 2000 (amendment 2008) clearly outlining the possible breaches and their repercussions ranging from copyright violations, cyber bullying, Defamation, Cheating, Data Theft to visiting Banned sites.

S2 – SAVVY

Savvy, is all about creating an educated digital citizen with the instilled personality of Empathy. The online environment is all about connecting remotely devoid of facial expressions, body language, impacting the true understanding of the communicated information. In short, listen, re-read the text, only if required send comments, avoid shortcuts paving way for good judgments. Along with this technical understanding of the Internet Functions will bring in the holistic understanding as a Digital citizen.

This brings us to the Last S, S3 – SOCIAL ‘Respecting Self Respecting Others’.

Digital Divide

The Supreme Court, in one of its hearing accorded the Internet the fundamental right status – Roti, Khapda, Makhaan and Internet! Digital Divide is yet another one of the threat posed in this Digital World. First type of divide is splitting the population into Digital Migrant and Digital Natives based on the technology handling comfort level. Digital Migrants will have to invest exclusive time and effort to learn to glide in this cloud whereas the Digital Natives are the Millennial and the Gen Z who are ace divers.

Second type o f divide is based on the Internet accessibility. India, as Gandhi said, lives in her villages accounting for 66% of the population with internet density at 25%. In contrast the urban population of 34% has an internet density of 98%. 

Third Divide is Device accessibility. A NGO reported that a significant proportion of the distress calls they are receiving are actually requests to recharge mobile phone accounts.

As a technology, the internet is a commodity and user affordability too plays an important role.

Digital Wellness

With nearly all ways of communication going online, the level of indulgence be it for learning, earning or entertainment has to be balanced for maintaining wellness. Wellness of Self is understood in two aspects – Screen Management in terms of

• Size – Smaller Screen lesser learning
• Distance – 41-46cms for Mobile phones and 50-100cms for Computer Screen
• Time – 20-20-20 principle – every 20 minutes look 20 feet away for at least 20seconds.

Planet Wellness – Since the advent of Industrial revolution 1.0 to the current 4.0, Man has in his zeal for Innovation and excellence jeopardized his own survival and blown the bugle of the start of his own extinction. Planet wellness is measured in terms of carbon footprints. Quoting Greenpeace France, ‘If internet were a country, then it would be one of the largest consumers of electricity after USA, China and Russia.’ All the reason to be responsible and practice some habits like regularly weeding out the inbox by deleting unread, unopened emails; Type direct URL, website address and avoid search by keywords which emits 4 times more greenhouse gases. One Life One Planet Welcome to a Walk in the Clouds!