What is digital citizenship?

For many, it’s hard to imagine living in a world without everything at your fingertips, at just the click of a button. Our smartphones alone allow us to do pretty much anything – from planning a train journey, to paying for the ticket, storing the ticket on our phone, to getting to a final destination by using Apple or Google maps.

Technology also allows us to stay connected to friends and family, no matter where they live in the world, as well as to join communities and make new connections. And it helps us to learn, to educate ourselves, and to stay informed about important local and global events.

But having access to this wealth of information and connection, at the touch of a button, comes with the responsibility to be a good digital citizen.

Digital citizenship defined

A good citizen is someone who respects their community and plays an active role in society, whilst showing kindness and empathy towards others.

Digital citizenship refers to being able to use technology in a positive way and to navigate digital environments or spaces responsibly and safely. It’s also about actively engaging in digital communities in a respectful way.

The importance of digital citizenship

According to Statista, there are around 5.35 billion people globally who use the internet, which is 66% of the world’s population. Of course this means that currently around 34% of the world’s population is digitally excluded. However, it’s predicted that by 2029, 7.9 billion people will be able to access the internet — a massive increase of 47%.

So why is being a digital citizen important?

With so many people being able to access information on a global scale, as well as connect with others from around the world, it’s important that they know how to stay safe online as well as how to participate in a purposeful and respectful way.

It’s also vital that we train people in how to access the internet and use digital technology in a way that will enhance and enrich their lives. Currently there is a digital skills gap which, if not addressed now, will mean that many will fall behind, become digitally excluded, and miss out on the benefits that digital brings.

Whilst digital technology comes with many benefits, it also comes with risk. The National Cyber Security Centre in the UK confirmed a total of 8,023 reports of social media hacking in 2021/22, which is an increase of 23.5% on the previous year. UK residents also received over 208 million scam emails and there were 69,000 cases of identity theft reported.

Being a digital citizen means understanding the risks of technology and to take steps to keep yourself, and others, safe online. It’s one of the reasons why it’s being taught in schools — helping young people to not only participate but to make smart choices when it comes to online safety.

What it means to be a digital citizen

Anyone who has the skills and knowledge to use digital technology is considered a digital citizen. However, not everyone uses technology in a positive way. There are many examples of technology being used to harvest data for nefarious purposes, where technology has been used to scam people, or where systems have been hacked for criminal motives.

Therefore, a good digital citizen is someone who uses technology in a positive and responsible way in order to participate in society.

How charities can become better digital citizens

Whilst people have a responsibility to be good digital citizens, so do organisations. Here’s how charities can ensure that they are being responsible digital citizens.

Ensure data is held safely and securely

Our donors and volunteers trust us to keep their information safe and secure from data breaches or cyber security threats. It’s essential that we adhere to GDPR rules and have systems in place that protect their personal data.

This includes having a robust, secure database, having firewall security software installed, having the data backed up, and more.

Address negativity on social media

Sadly, there are people, or even bots, who troll social media accounts. Many charities are reporting an influx of negative comments on their posts. Some have even gone as far as to leave certain social media platforms, like X, because it’s such a negative space.

Being a good digital citizen means ensuring that the communities you create for your followers are safe spaces. Ways to combat negative comments is by regularly monitoring and moderating your channels and hiding or deleting comments that go against your community guidelines, and by using the “filtered words” feature so that they don’t get published in the first place.

Upskill staff in digital  

Charities have a duty to ensure that their staff are skilled in digital so that they can work efficiently and effectively. The Charity Digital Skills Report 2023 showed that 17% of charities are spending less on upskilling staff and volunteers. With the increasing popularity of technology such as AI, charities should be spending more on upskilling staff in digital — not less.

Recognise digital exclusion

Being a good digital citizen means recognising that not all your supporters will have access to a smartphone or computer, the internet or data, or will not have the skills to use technology. Here are six ways that you can tackle digital exclusion to ensure that you reach as many people who need your support as possible.

Find out more

Our 2024 Digital Inclusion Summit revealed how charities can help can make the digital world a safer, happier, more inclusive place, from improving access to digital devices to demystifying cyber security. Click here to watch the session recordings for free.

Our report, ‘Digital inclusion in the UK charity sector’, uncovers charity practitioners’ attitudes towards digital inclusion, including the challenges charities face in reaching out to service users and how they are making the most of the digital technology they use. Click the link in the orange box below to download the report.

Our Digital Inclusion Hub features regular articles, podcasts, and webinars to help charities reach across the digital divide. Click here to learn more.