Digital Citizenship is a Misnomer but That's Just the Beginning

The article below is timely and thoughtful as it relates to digital citizenship. 

The author, Nick Harkaway, makes, and backs up, the point that digital citizenship is merely citizenship in all its function and application.  He sums it all up in his first line:

"It's not about technology, it's about us."

"...there is no digital world...Instead, what we see and do online is part of what we do, period..."

Later in the article he reminds us our rights and responsibilities as citizens:

"...choice is a skill..."

"...your personal opinion and expertise contribute to the biggest smart crowd there is.  Don't be afraid to change your mind if events prove you wrong."

And, finally, a mandate:

"We are in a position now where we can look forward and ask what sort of society we want and try to build it not from the top down but from everywhere to everywhere else."

"The sum and interactions of our choices make the world."

This, as you know, is the world in which we live.  It's the world in which we are educating children.  From my interactions with many of you I am confident that you get this. 

But, how big is the "citizenship" disconnect in the general adult population (You know, the parents and faculty guiding our kids morally and pedagogically)?  

And, how aware are our students of their power and responsibilities when it comes to their role as global citizens?

My soapbox:  What has passed as acceptable "citizenship" in the past (and, alas, far too often in the present) is outdated and much too narrow.  Recently, our kids have (superficially? naively?) experienced the following world-impacting events:

* SOPA

* KONY 2012

* PUSSY RIOT vs PUTIN

* ARAB SPRING

* OCCUPY WALL STREET

Any one of these events could be an entire course of study. My guess is that none of these ended up being more than a sensational headline/buzz in our kids' experience.  

I don't, individually, have the answers.  Still, I recognize that they must be answered if we are truly developing global citizens and not just another generation of consumers.

"The choices we make today determine what happens, and 'wait and see' ...is not a neutral position.  It's very nearly an admission of defeat." 

We're in the throes of a new school year.  There are many items on our to do lists.  Try and squeeze in time to challenge one another and, in turn, the status quo.  The rest of the global citizens don't seem to be waiting for their turn to challenge paradigms.

But are we?  

"With distributed power, it seems, comes distributed responsibility."

Your feedback is appreciated and necessary.

We Need to Learn to Become Digital Citizens by Nick Harkaway

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