Many high school students enjoy using social media to connect with friends and share their experiences. However, the online environment comes with its own set of social rules that can sometimes be confusing. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of teaching Cyber Skills to help students navigate the world of social media responsibly, particularly when it comes to posting photos of others. We will also provide a no-prep activity, discussion questions, and related skills to help educators support their students in developing these essential life skills.

Introduction

As educators, we have a responsibility to help our students develop the skills they need to navigate the ever-changing digital landscape. One important aspect of this is teaching them how to use social media responsibly and ethically. Cyber Skills are a set of guidelines that can help students understand how their actions on social media can impact others and how to make thoughtful choices when sharing content online.

No-Prep Activity: Social Media Scenarios

In this no-prep activity, students will work in pairs or small groups to discuss and evaluate different social media scenarios. The goal of the activity is to help students practice using their Cyber Skills to make responsible decisions when posting photos on social media.

1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Provide each group with a list of scenarios that involve posting photos on social media. For example:
   • A student posts a photo of a friend at a party without asking for permission.
   • A student shares a group photo from a school event and tags everyone in the picture.
   • A student posts a screenshot of a private conversation with a friend.
3. Ask the groups to discuss each scenario and determine whether or not it is appropriate to post the photo, based on the Cyber Skills guidelines. Encourage students to consider the feelings of others and the potential consequences of their actions.
4. After the discussions, have each group share their thoughts with the class and explain their reasoning.

Discussion Questions

1. Why is it important to consider the feelings of others when posting photos on social media?
2. What are some potential consequences of posting a photo without someone’s permission?
3. How can you ensure that you are respecting others’ privacy and feelings when using social media?
4. What strategies can you use to ask for permission before posting a photo of someone else?
5. How can Cyber Skills help you make responsible choices when using social media?

Related Skills

In addition to Cyber Skills, there are several other related skills that can help students develop responsible social media habits. These include:

• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others can help students make more thoughtful decisions when posting content online.
• Communication: Effective communication skills can help students express their concerns and ask for permission before sharing photos of others on social media.
• Digital Citizenship: Teaching students about digital citizenship can help them understand their rights and responsibilities in the online world, including respecting others’ privacy.

Next Steps

Teaching Cyber Skills is an important part of preparing high school students for the digital world. By incorporating these principles into your classroom, you can help your students develop responsible social media habits that will serve them well throughout their lives. To explore more resources and activities for teaching Cyber Skills and other essential life skills, sign up for free samples at Everyday Speech today.