Examining the Need of Digital Citizenship Education for Adolescents in the Current Digital Landscape

Abstract

Adolescents are growing up in a digital era, and the increasing role of technology in our lives presents both challenges and opportunities. A survey study was conducted to address the need for Digital Citizenship Education (DCE) in school-going adolescents, as they need to learn how to make sound judgments when navigating the digital world. The study found that 79% of students have digital access at home, 83% purchase products online, and 73% have social media accounts, with 24% talking to strangers online. However, only 21% use the internet at school, and 78% are unaware of the term DCE. The survey also revealed that many students lack awareness of cyber laws, struggle to determine the reliability of online information, and believe everything they see online is true. This research emphasizes the importance of developing a customized DCE curriculum for adolescents to participate safely, ethically, effectively, and responsibly in the digital community.