Digital Decorum by Tristan

Digital Decorum by Tristan - August 2015 Scholarship Essay

The first time people meet me is on the internet. They see my name in a search, a Facebook page, a blog post, and with one click they are transported to my life, my goals, my dreams. They can know everything about me in a matter of seconds. They soon know what books I like, what I do in my free time, what I do on the weekends. This is a double-edged sword. Now, almost any idea or identity can be offered instantly to the public. Sometimes, we don’t want all information made public. Maintaining a healthy online identity can be challenging. But, if cultivated correctly, the benefits of these identities far outweigh the disadvantages.

The internet is a tool, just like any other. Unfortunately, it is misused at almost epidemic proportions. A vast web of connections to hundreds of countries and millions of people, and high schoolers use it for cat videos. But, given effort, the internet could be used for good. High schools should offer classes in Digital Decorum to combat the misuse of the web.

The model for this class would consist of two parts: what to add and what to subtract from the internet.

The subtraction of this class is simple, if taught soon enough. This would ensure that only things that students wish to be made known are on the web. For instance, students who go to parties with red cups in their hands might be taught to refrain from posting selfies taken on Friday nights. Others still might be instructed to post fewer negative posts to maintain a professional online presence.

Keeping unprofessional content off Facebook is only one part of the solution. Content creation is what gets notoriety and job requests. If students push themselves to be professional and post what they’re proud of onto the web, their work will be noticed. This can be as simple as posting more essays, building an online portfolio, or just dropping the right names on Twitter. A little goes a long way, and if students build themselves up with good content, good jobs will follow.

In today’s increasingly digital climate, it is important to maintain a sense of decorum, both on and off the screen. High schools can and should be the first to aid aspiring job-holders create a healthy presence online. Now, more than ever, schools must evolve with society to maintain their relevance in it.