Digital Citizenship
Be Internet Awesome. A program that includes a fun and free web-based game called Interland and an educational curriculum to teach kids how to be safe and responsible explorers of the online world.
Connect Safely. A variety of resources for learning good online behavior and managing your digital footprint.
Family Online Safety Institute. An organization dedicated to making the online world safer for kids and families.
Internet Citizen from Mozilla. Resources to help everyone be a better digital citizen.
Privacy and Safety
Data & Society Research Institute: Best Practices for Conducting Risky Research and Protecting Yourself from Online Harassment Researchers who investigate sensitive topics may face online harassment, social shaming, or other networked forms of abuse.
Pew Research Center: Crossing the Line: What Counts as Online Harassment?
Data & Society Research Institute: Online Harassment Information Sheet for Universities.
Facebook: How can I tell if an app may have misused my Facebook information?
Safe Computing at U-M See Be Aware and Protect Yourself for tips and information about IT security and privacy.
Expect Respect: Creating and maintaining a respectful and welcoming environment for all to live, learn, work and thrive is a priority at U-M. Bias incidents may involve conduct that does not violate any law or university policy. If you feel you may have experienced bias and would like to discuss the incident, please call 734-615-BIAS (2427) or report an incident online.
University of Michigan Policies. Responsible Use of Information Resources (SPG 601.07)
Platforms and Performance
If you use the Internet, it’s fair to assume that somebody has looked you up on Google. Having a social media presence is a great way to gain some control over how you appear online, and gives people a way to engage with you.
Different social media platforms have different functions, and nobody needs to be everywhere. But spending a little time building a profile on a platform or two can help you create an online identity and connect with people in your field.
One general rule applies to all platforms: make a complete profile. Include a cover photo for your page, your picture, contact information, and a link to your personal website, if you have one. Consistency is important, so if you’re on more than one social network, try to ensure that the “look and feel” of your digital presence is similar across all platforms. Also remember that, while social media platforms can be accessed via a desktop, much of your potential audience will be using mobile devices.
Another general rule that applies across platforms: all of them will allow you to block other members. Blocking should be used as a last resort, since you want to encourage online engagement—but unfortunately, it is sometimes unavoidable.
Here’s a quick rundown of some of the major social media sites and how to navigate them.
