Weekly Report & Reflection Post #8

Greetings, fellow bloggers!

Last week we discussed digital rights and responsibilities, and I think these are two concepts many citizens in our digital society take for granted. According to the West's Encyclopedia of American Law, a right is "entitlement to something, whether to concepts like justice and various freedoms [such as] freedoms of speech, press, religion, assembly and petition" (n.d.).  As for the concept of responsibility, this is "a moral obligation to behave correctly toward or in respect of [something or someone]." (n.d.).

No doubt you've seen, or heard about, the headlines concerning Kim Kardashian's "Assault on the Internet with NSFW Selfie".  Kim's action, of course, generated plenty of remarks - both negative and positive.   Pink recently posted in Instagram that women should use "their brains, their strength, their work ethic, their talent" instead of selling their bodies, whereas Amber Rose defended Kim's action and decision asserting that as a grown woman she does and wants to show off is not anyone's business.  Perhaps some might argue that Kim is within her rights to exercise her freedom of expression, telling the world how confident and empowered she feels about her body by posting a naked picture of herself; others disagree with her form of public expression.  

I chose to write about this incident because this is what has been trending this week.  As I think about this event and how it is connected to digital citizens' rights and responsibilities, I question whether this behaviour is an appropriate way to exercise one's rights to freedom of expression.  I ask if just because we enjoy certain freedoms does that give us the right to do, say, or post things online without considering whether we offend others or not, since we are exercising our rights?

Ribble (2015), states "Being a full member in a digital society (or any society group) means that each user is afforded certain rights, and these rights should be provided equally to all members.  [But by the same token] Digital citizens also have certain responsibilities to this society; they must agree to live according to the parameters that are mutually agreed upon by members." (p. 46).  So what are the parameters that our digital society has set out for members to follow?  Perhaps this is a question that generates multiple answers and very contrasting points of view.  Moreover, how individuals choose to express themselves online is a topic that can be argued in favor or against at length. 

As a closing thought, I think that as citizens of a digital society, it is necessary to T.H.IN.K. before posting something online.  We should question ourselves if that's the digital footprint we want to leave behind.

think [online image]

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References

Ribble, M. (2015). Digital Citizenship in Schools (3rd ed.). Arlington, VA: International Society for Technology in Education.

right. (n.d.) West's Encyclopedia of American Law, edition 2. (2008). Retrieved March 9 2016 from http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/right.

responsibility. (n.d.) West's Encyclopedia of American Law, edition 2. (2008). Retrieved March 9 2016 from http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/responsibility.

think [Online image]. Retrieved March 9, 2016 http://mwhitmoredigitalcitizenship.weebly.com/uploads/2/4/9/9/24990039/779550655.jpg?293