FOCUS: Citizenship in the brave new – digital – world

By Pamela Lackey  |  Regardless of where we consider “home,” we are all citizens of a digital world. Advances in communication and computer technology have revolutionized nearly every aspect of life, from how we work and play to how we stay in touch with others.

Lackey

Some people seem to be completely at home in an online, interconnected community. For example, Beloit University’s “The Mindset List” notes that members of the Class of 2015 have never known a world without the Internet.

Other folks, however, seem slightly perplexed by where they find themselves. For them, “friend” is a noun, not a verb, and “shopping” requires going to a store.

At AT&T, we believe in doing our part to help everyone succeed and prosper in this technology-defined community. That’s why we have committed to a series of initiatives that are all about digital citizenship – navigating challenges in this online world safely while embracing new opportunities.

Just as living in a particular place requires certain practical information, such as traffic laws or the location of a nearby grocery story, digital citizenship requires a basic understanding of the devices and technology which create and power the digital world.

As part of our Digital You program, we offer information specifically designed for digital newcomers. In addition to practical, how-to-use guidance on basic cell phones, smartphone and tablets, it also addresses mobile broadband, identifying and avoiding e-mail scams and being safe online.

Digital You also brings you Digital Compass™, a free interactive game developed by Common Sense to help teach 6th through 9th graders about the real-world impact of their online choices.

Online safety, especially for youth, is a major issue today. The Internet lets us travel the world without leaving home. While that is great for teens doing research for school or playing online games with friends, it creates situations their parents never had to address. For example, one in four kids say they have been bullied online. So we are providing some common-sense tips for handling online bullies and trolls.

Since every keyboard has a delete key, it is easy to forget how permanent the online world is. Even if a photo is deleted, the comments and images can live on. So we are helping teens understand that what may seem like a funny comment today may look tomorrow like questionable judgment to a university admissions officer or potential employer.

Businesses, too, face online risks, suffering nearly 43 million known security incidents in 2014. This increased 48 percent compared with 2013 and equals some 117,000 attacks daily. To better equip other businesses to secure their own data we recently shared our own insights and research in our first Cybersecurity Insights Report.

Another aspect of citizenship is taking responsibility for how our actions impact others and our community. In the digital world, that means we need to use our devices wisely and safely.

For five years, the It Can Wait campaign has conveyed a single message: Keep your eyes on the road, not on your phone. Over that time, our campaign has evolved as smartphone driving distractions have grown beyond texting to include social media, web surfing, selfies and video chatting.

The latest research of smartphone users has found that of those who use their devices while driving, more than 60 percent text, about 30 percent email or surf the web, and an astonishing 10 percent Facetime. For those unfamiliar with the practice, to “Facetime,” individuals use their smartphones to create an interactive videoconference. I am astonished that people do this behind the wheel.

The simple fact remains that no post, glance, email, search or text is worth a life.

Today’s technology offers unprecedented opportunities for inclusion, removing the barriers of distance and, often, language. The Digital You program therefore also delves into accessibility resources for users with disabilities and includes a wide assortment of resources in Spanish.

I realize that change can be unsettling – don’t move my coffeepot on my kitchen counter. But I am excited to think about the innovations which are even now being developed, thanks to today’s advanced technologies.

Pamela Lackey is president, AT&T-South Carolina