In Connected Learning and Health in Term 4, we looked at online safety and behaviours and how to be respectful and safe online and how that yours and others actions can have a huge impact on the viewer in a good way or a bad. I have also learnt that all of your actions have consequences and karma can come back to get you if you are not careful with how you act online.

When doing this topic I realized that when posting a picture or commenting on a post we have to use the ideas of ERIC as it tells us to- E-Empathy. to have empathy for the person reading/viewing the comment or post. R-Respect. to be respectful online and always think of others before posting or commenting on something. I-Integrity. to be honest but not too honest when it comes to your remarks and uploads. C-Courage. To have the courage to stand up for someone in need online or to have the courage to tell someone about your difficulties online.

I have also learnt valuable things about being respectful and safe and most importantly having empathy for anyone being picked on or just getting harassed by people a lot more than the person should be. I have also learnt that when you or somebody else is being picked on or harassed in a rude way on social media it is is extremely important to stop them by either respectfully replying by ‘killing them with kindness’ or even not replying at all can be OK as well although, by ignoring it you can be a bit of a bystander. also to add to that if you see someone else replying to a post rudely or inappropriately it is definitely not an invitation to do what they are doing.

I have also learnt that Social Media is a privilege- not a right and can be easily given to and easily taken away, and inappropriate use of the privilege that you have been granted is a horrible waste of your time and an even more horrible feeling for the reader/viewer.

Another thing that I have also learnt is that people show only their best moments on Social Media and will never show the worst e.g. photographs, failed attempts, non-edited things etc.
and things are not always as they appear to be like we saw in the video about the person jumping off the bridge and landing and then the young viewers seeing that and wanting to try it but then realized that  it was all fake and edited when they hesitantly tried it out with a watermelon and throwing it off the bridge and witnessing it smash into pieces.

To conclude, I think that this unit was extremely valuable and also quite hard to see what over people are facing all over the World and it is also quite horrifying that people can cower behind a screen but the could never say that to their face. This was an extremely intriguing unit and was very good to learn about, All-in-all this was very great to learn and see as it will or has been around us for years and is shown to be everywhere in the world and you can be harassed even in the comfort and safety of your own home.

REMEMBER: IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW ARE BEING BULLIED OR CYBER BULLIED ONLINE OR IN A SOCIAL AREA NEVER HESITATE TO TELL  A TRUSTED ADULT, FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER OR KIDS HELPLINE AT: https://kidshelpline.com.au/

Thank you also to Mr J for teaching us this very important unit and for Mr Coleman for organizing the booklets as that would’ve taken forever and all of your hard work and precious time has clearly and most definitely paid off as I will be taking this learning experience into account for now and forever whilst using Social Media!! 😃 

(Made in Term 4 2019)