Exploring Public Understanding of Digital Citizenship: A Community Interview

    After interviewing three non-professional individuals—a parent, a tricycle driver, and a sari-sari store owner. I gained meaningful insights into how everyday members of the community understand and practice digital citizenship. Interestingly, none of them had heard of the term “digital citizenship” before, but when asked what they thought it meant, they interpreted it as behaving properly online or being responsible with internet use. This suggests that while the formal term may be unfamiliar, the concept itself is intuitive and understandable when related to personal experience.

    All the interviewees regularly use mobile phones to access the internet, mainly through platforms like Facebook and YouTube. Their common activities include messaging family and friends, watching videos, and occasionally browsing content for entertainment or learning. Their online presence may not be extensive, but their behavior reflects a cautious and thoughtful approach to sharing content. Most of them only post family-related photos, positive quotes, or humorous content, and they are mindful of avoiding controversial or offensive topics. This shows a natural sense of responsibility and respect in their online behavior, two essential traits of a good digital citizen.

    When asked about negative experiences online, such as fake news, insults, or scams, all three admitted they had encountered such content. However, their typical reaction was to ignore the negativity or simply scroll past it. Although they did not actively report these incidents, they also did not engage or spread the content further, which demonstrates an instinct to prevent conflict and avoid harmful interactions online. This also reflects the importance of teaching digital literacy, especially in using tools like “report” functions that could help protect the broader online community.

        Their advice to young people using the internet was clear and insightful: think before you post, be respectful, avoid online fights, and use the internet for learning and doing good. These are simple yet powerful reminders that show how older or non-professional users also value responsible digital behavior. Overall, I learned that digital citizenship doesn’t require advanced education or technical skills, it’s about practicing respect, safety, and awareness online. Even without knowing the exact term, many in the community are already acting as responsible digital citizens. However, there’s still a need to strengthen digital education at the grassroots level so everyone, regardless of background, can participate safely and wisely in the digital world.