CITIZENSHIP GRADE 10 UNIT 2 SHORT NOTE
UNIT 2: CITIZENS IN THE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AGE
LESSON 1: Effects of digital technology on citizens
Digital technology refers to the use of computers, tablets, mobile phones and digital and social
media that are accessed on those devices through Internet.
Digital technologies have advanced more rapidly than any innovations in human history.
Digital technology have a positive and negative effects on citizens emotions, social life and ethics.
1. Effects on emotions
Technology has the ability to change a user’s mental and emotional state.
Technology can lead to both positive and negative emotions conditioned on how often people use
technology and for what purpose.
Moderate use of technology produces positive effects
Extremely high, obsessive, or addictive use typically leads to negative effects.
Positive implications Negative implications
Self-control Isolation
Fostering school Secondhand living
Maintaining emotional balance Depression and anxiety
Supporting happiness and wellbeing Anonymity and fake personality
Regulating emotions Addiction
Providing a sense of security
Increased emotional satisfaction (self-conception)
2. Effects on social life
Positive implications Negative implications
Increased social connectivity Social alienation
Speedy communication Eroding privacy
Advancing education Job insecurity
Transportations Data insecurity
Banking and finance Crime and terrorism
Health care Effects on physical health
Economic growth
3. Effects on ethical values
Positive implications Negative implications
Developing critical thinking Ethical dilemma
Developing universal moral values Increasing uncertain
Self-learning of good habits Creating unhappiness
Untruthfulness
Eroding people’s norms of freedom
Induction of negative emotions
LESSON 2: The ethics of using digital technology
Ethical and acceptable behavior is important in utilizing digital technology such as Internet, cellular
phones and laptops.
Some of the common ethical and social codes students should be aware of while using digital
technology include:
Understanding the ethical, cultural, and societal issues related to technology
Practicing responsible use of technology system, information and software
Developing positive attitudes towards technology applications that support lifelong learning,
collaboration, personal pursuits and productivity.
These codes of conduct are important to guide student’s behavior in and out of school in using
technology.
What is digital citizenship?
Digital citizenship can be defined as the norms of behavior with regard to technology use.
It is the appropriate and responsible use of the Internet, computers and digital devices.
General areas of behavior that make up digital citizenship.
1. Etiquette: the electronic standard of conduct or procedure.
Responsible digital behavior makes everyone a role model for peoples.
Using technology in a way that minimize the negative effects on others.
Using technology when it is contextually appropriate.
Respecting others online, not engaging in flaming, inflammatory language, and so forth
2. Responsibility: Technology users must think twice about what is appropriate or ethical and legal to
down load materials from the Internet.
Follow acceptable use policies and using technologies responsibly.
Understand technology rules.
Helping others to use technology ethically.
Reporting inappropriate use.
Examples of inappropriate responsibility.
Students copy materials of the Internet for class projects without giving credit to the author.
Students download illegal materials from the Internet sites
3. Safety: Examples of technology related problems
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Eyestrain and poor posture
4. Security: as more and more sensitive information is stored electronically, a corresponding strategy
to protect that information must be created.
Example of inappropriate security:
Failure to protect your identity while using e-mail, chat, or instant messaging
Failure to protect electronic data
Failure to maintain current software updates on other computers so as to protect from computer
virus.
5. Confidentiality: A lot of Internet users are not aware of the fact that personal information may be
revealed when they go online.
6. Accuracy/ trust worthiness: Inaccurate information can cause confusion in society, and medical and
legal issues.
LESSON 3: Opportunities digital technology provides for young citizens
Information access: digital technology is a window of opportunity for young citizens to easily
access information about what is going in their own country and around the world.
Social connectivity: digital technology facilitates conditions to the young to connect socially in spite
of time and space.
Learning opportunities: anybody with access to the Internet now has an access to a huge
proportion of the world’s knowledge over the web.
Versatile working opportunities: many young people now have far more opportunities for working
from home as remote working has become increasingly common.
Digital technologies also provide opportunities for the young to easily search and apply online
job opportunities.
Innovation and creative opportunities: The opportunities in terms of information access,
connectivity and digital learning are the enabling factors for the young citizens to be innovative in
different aspects of life.
LESSON 4: Impacts of unethical use of digital technology on young citizens
Academic dishonesty: is a serious unethical use of digital technologies which affect the academic
performance of the young. Example: cheating and Internet plagiarism
Plagiarism- is the act of presenting the ideas, words, or other intellectual property of other
persons as one’s own.
Digital media piracy: Piracy is regarded as illegal circulation and distribution of music, movies,
books and other intellectual property. Such unethical acts affect the young in two ways.
First, it violates the property rights of those whose music, movies, books etc... are distributed
and circulated to others without payment.
Secondly, such conducts affect the production industries and hinders young generation from
their commitment to hardworking.
Identity theft: digital technologies provide wide scopes for users to hide their identities. People are
much more likely to behave anti-socially if they think that there will be no consequences.
Unfriendly and revenge sex: the irresponsible and unethical use of digital technology poses risks for
the young in their relationships with their sexual friends.
