My journey in the digital age has undergone an interesting transformation, shaped by the technological developments. With the omnipresence of digital technology, we are digitally involved in everything we do. The connected world we live in brings many benefits and we want to embrace all these benefits without the risks of course. The good news is that it allows access to reliable news and information and services, and enables better connectivity with people, to name a few.
However, along with the substantial opportunities come a diverse range of risks and harms. Growing up in the digital age, I know internet has a considerable impact on cognitive and emotional wellbeing, but it is actually not only that. The digital age poses many privacy challenges as well, ranging from identity fraud, identity theft, exposure of surveillance mechanisms and more. This is precisely what makes me rethink my position in the digital age. There are many dilemmas I already consider: from ethics of being monitored, transparency and managing my own data online and a number of questions related to consent online in general.
However, what I think is even more interesting is the emergency to improve our digital literacies online. With the rapid change of technology, education for instance demands more complex capabilities than before. The omnipresence of digital devices and applications in education requires digital capabilities, which in principle entails how to use digital technologies to enhance and innovate education. Digital literacies have to be more than a combination of buzzwords such as media, communication and ICT literacy. Privacy is a new literacy we urge to master in the digital age.
To flatten this emerging literacy, I actually see privacy literacy is a set of knowledge, behaviors, understanding and awareness of how information is tracked and used online and making informed decisions regarding what personal information about me should be public and private. Dana Rotman noted that privacy literacy centers on the understanding of what may happen to personal information online and the protection of it, and I totally agree.
On the other side, I consider digital literacy more inclusive: not only the ability to use hardware and software, but the ability to use information and technologies to find, interpret, evaluate, adapt, manage, and share information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills, in addition to the ability to research a given topic. I do believe that a poor online identity can have severe ramifications for both personal and professional spectrum hence, professionalizing digital literacy as guided by existing frameworks can help crafting a successful online digital identity.
At the end, I think it is an ongoing process, attempting to improve my digital reputation and cultivate and find a balance of my professional and personal identity online. It is a matter of mastering a set of capabilities, which might seem to cause headache, however, it forms a vital life skill.
References:
Rotman, D. (2009). Are you looking at me? Social media and privacy literacy.
Anna April 20, 2022
I think your concerns regarding privacy are valid. Although steps have been taken in the right direction, for instance through GDPR, I don’t think we are anywhere close to a situation where individuals are able to make an informed consent about their data. Yet, as our reality is now digital, opting out is not a choice either so learning to be as safe and wise as we can be within the current state of things is really all we can do. Digital literacies have become fundamental skills, necessary for full involvement in society.
islem megdiche May 29, 2022
Thank you Lejla for sharing your thoughts, I agree with you regarding the matter of privacy. The awareness regarding this matter increases with age of the user.