08/06/2025
Another workshop wrapped — possibly the last one for the summer.
Youth and adults alike are still figuring out something we should have all been taught by now: digital literacy and citizenship are crucial.
Most of our relationships and intimate lives now live online — yet we’ve been left to navigate this world on our own.
Imagine being handed the keys to a top-of-the-line car and a camper. But no one teaches you how to drive, or how to safely hitch that trailer so it doesn’t hurt others — or yourself.
You’ve heard “put your seatbelt on” because that’s all anyone around you says. But…
What about the blind spots?
How do you drive during traffic?
Who do you call when you get a flat?
What tools should you even carry with you?
Online life is often like driving full-speed with total freedom… but with no roadmap.
We each carry in our hands a powerful tool that connects us to all corners of the world — and yet, that same tool can cause harm, especially when people feel invincible behind a screen.
Take a moment and really reflect:
What were you actually taught about being online?
If the answer is nothing, then what do you wish you knew — beyond just digital “etiquette”?
What are the red flags I should watch for?
How can I protect myself — emotionally, physically, digitally?
What’s real, and what’s been manipulated?
Where can I go for support when something feels off?
But let’s not stop there.
This digital world also holds power. The power to teach, to create, to mobilize.
To start global movements.
To find your people.
To feel seen, heard, and understood — even if you’ve never met face-to-face.
Learn to spot the green flags, too.
Safety. Respect. Consent. Empathy. Creativity. Joy.
It’s not always obvious, and it’s rarely easy —
but balance can be found, even when it feels impossible.
