Children learn how to behave in a wide variety of environments: at school, church, playground, and theater. Each has its own codes of conduct, community of people, and behavioral expectations. Parents, teachers, coaches, scout leaders, and others help kids learn how to work together, play nicely, and treat others with kindness and respect. A child develops a reputation based on what he does and how he behaves that follows him through life.

Digital environments have their own rules, expectations, and communities. Who you interact with and how you should behave varies, from multiplayer games like World of Warcraft, to social networking sites such as Club Penguin or Facebook, to a collaborative workspace like a wiki. Based on their online actions, people develop digital reputations that also follow them through life.

Because they feel anonymous in cyberspace, and seldom see the people with whom they interact, kids behave differently when online.  They can become leaders and experts in their areas of interest and can organize others for a cause. They can also be mean or engage in dangerous activities themselves.

Learn more about ethical behavior, digital communities, and civic engagement in an online world.