Being a good digital citizen is a lot like being a good citizen in the real world. A good digital citizen has the greater good in mind. They contribute to making the internet a more welcoming place.

Here are a few things you can do if you want to be a good digital citizen.

• Answer questions with helpful responses. Many people use the internet to learn things they wouldn’t otherwise be able to. If you know the answer to a question someone poses for other internet users, give the person an honest answer. Refrain from making fun of someone’s question or the person.
• Approach people with kindness and empathy. Everyone has struggles and challenges in life and you should approach people you meet online with that in mind. Use your new communication tools to share positive messages and lift your digital neighbors up. 
• Be positive, even during conflict. Online, you have the potential to meet people from many different places and lifestyles. Not everyone will have the same views as you. Be open to learning more about them. Ask questions, listen carefully, and be willing to engage in conversation. See if you can find some common ground. If you truly cannot tolerate someone’s ideas, don’t say mean things about them. Simply ignore their remarks, or use the privacy settings to block them.
• Behave online as you would in real life. It can feel like the internet isn’t real, but things said and done online can have real life consequences. Your words can have a major impact on someone. Make sure you’d be willing to say the same thing in person as you would online. Never be a bully.

Remember, messages spread very quickly online, whether they’re happy stories or terrible rumors. Consider the impact you will make any time you share something online.