Values in the Digital World: Ethics and Practices that Underpin Wellbeing

This book proposes a Digital Moral Framework (DMF) that parents and teachers can use to foster moral values and abilities, and address moral challenges faced by young people while using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). The second outcome is the Cyber Values Systems model (CVS) that can be used to understand the role of values (moral and immoral) in the use of ICTs.

Challenges Faced by Young People

ICTs have been greeted with enthusiasm in education and in society because these provide incredible means for moral action, productivity, innovation and creativity. However, unethical and inappropriate practices are challenging society and educational institutions to understand the moral values and abilities that can mediate the use of ICTs by young people, and help them respond to the challenges they face.

It is my experience, although some students behave inappropriately at times such as malicious attempts to damage the reputation of peers, inappropriate responses and profiles on social media, they also demonstrate moral agency such as standing up to cyberbullies and supporting their peers in need in the digital world. Because young people can be both moral and immoral, as a teacher I concluded that opportunities for learning are rich. The reality is that the use of ICTs is rich with promise and risks, both of which carry moral consequences and personal responsibility. Young people are often navigating the digital world without the values and skills they need to be good digital citizens.

However, we have an opportunity to be proactive and prepare young people before and after they set sail in the digital world. A proactive approach requires fostering moral agency (one's capacity to act morally).