My people, thank you so much for being here. I'm excited to lock in and dive deep into the power and responsibility of the digital world we live in, because let's be real for a second. We live in one of the wildest times in human history right now. On the phone in your pocket, you have more information, more power, and more opportunity than entire kingdoms had 300 years ago. Think about that. If you dropped your phone into the 1700s, you'd instantly be crowned the wizard, king, and supreme ruler of all the land, or be burned at the stake. Or probably both.
But here's the catch. With great power comes great responsibility. And if you're rolling your eyes right now when you hear me say that, trust me, I get it. I know what's been said a million times, but in the digital world, man, it's truer than ever. Because the truth is, your digital choices can either set you up for an incredible future or, and I say this with love, man, they can blow up in your face.
You see, the internet is not some fake space that doesn't count. It's real. Your words are real. Your actions are real. Your reputation is real. Everything you do online, it's like putting a little drop of ink in the water. It spreads, it moves. And sometimes it's impossible to take back. Your digital citizenship just means that you need to learn to live, work and play in the online world with respect, responsibility, wisdom, and some self-awareness.
And this matters because the digital world has rules. Some are written like laws or like, you know, rules at your school, and some are unwritten, like not leaving people on “read” or ghosting your friends or a group project at the last second. And when you understand these, you're not just staying out of trouble. You're setting yourself up to succeed in your school, in your community, and with the people who love and respect you.
Let me give you a quick example. Imagine this boy, let's call him Jake, who was brilliant with computers, built websites, edited videos, knew his way around code. And one day, as a joke, he posted a short video making fun of a teacher. It went semi viral. Everyone laughed. Jake got suspended, but worse. A couple of years later when he applied for an internship, the company googled him and guess what popped up on page one? That same video. Not his coding skills, not his GPA, not his amazing projects. Just a 30 second moment of immaturity.
Now look, Jake's a good guy. Actually, he is a stellar guy. He learned his lesson. But here's the point. The internet never forgets. And if you wouldn't want your grandma, your future boss, or your crush seeing it, maybe, no, not maybe. Don't post it.
Now you know me. I'm not here to scare you into being intelligent. I know you better than that. Because the other side of this is amazing. Your phone, your laptop, your social media, they’re megaphones for your talent, your kindness, and your brilliant ideas. You can build a portfolio before you graduate. You can connect with people who share your interests and passions anywhere in the world. You can learn any skill for free right now, and schools, colleges and jobs are literally looking for people who know how to use the digital world wisely. It’s like having a superpower that most people waste scrolling endlessly when you could be building your future.
My hard rocking amigos, I've put together a little tool to help you keep your eyes open and your mind awake so that you can use these fabulous tools as a future advantage for you, and not as a disadvantage. Try this. Before you create, respond, click, comment or trust someone online, use this simple and cool acronym, and it won't be the first time or last time you hear it. The acronym is THINK.
T stands for true. Is what you're posting or engaging with actually true? Have you checked it with other trusted sources? What do your parents or trusted people think about this? Bruh, we all have blind spots. Check with other people.
H stands for helpful. Does this help you or others in any way? Does it add something valuable, kind or constructive to your day or somebody else's? Or are you stirring up drama and chaos? Don't be that person. Be better.
I is integrity check. Does this align with who you want to be? Or does it pull you away from your values and belief system? Would your siblings, friends, or parents think that this is safe and good?
N stands for nourishing. Does this nourish you and others? Does it build you up as a friend, student, son, or daughter? Does it help you and others to be a better person or is it taking away from that? If it is, man, you know what to do.
And finally, K stands for keep me safe. Pretty simple. Does this choice keep you and others emotionally and digitally safe? You're going to be hearing that acronym a lot. And once you get used to it, it'll only take a couple of seconds to check yourself before you wreck yourself. And yeah, sometimes you'll still want to post the joke or the clap back, but this gives you just enough pause to avoid something that you will regret.
Here's the deal. You're most likely going to make some mistakes online. I have, every adult you know probably has. But if you can start thinking like a digital citizen, not just a consumer, but a creator and a leader in the online world, you'll stand out in the best way. So use your power. Use it to learn, to create, to connect it, to build the kind of online world you'd actually want to live in. Because the digital world doesn't just shape you, you're actually shaping it, right?
Anyways, thanks for taking a quick moment to think about this presentation and what this could mean to you. Happy surfing!