The world our kids are growing up in is entirely different from the one many of us experienced in our own youth. Contemporary technology has made it possible to access information, connect with new people, and express creativity in ways we could hardly have imagined. Yet with all these exciting possibilities come many challenges. 

Experts agree that the most important media skills are social and behavioral.

What is Cyber Civics?

The goal of Cyber Civics is to provide students with the tools needed to develop digital literacy skills to safely and successfully navigate the internet. Through a series of developmentally appropriate lessons and activities, students cultivate the digital literacy skills needed to successfully navigate the online world. Over three years starting in sixth grade, Cyber Civics covers digital citizenship, information literacy, and media literacy. Age-appropriate work continues in ninth and tenth grade.

Benefits to Students and Families

In addition to teaching middle school students skills needed to successfully navigate the online world, Cyber Civics empowers students to use critical thinking while engaging with digital media. It also provides tweens and teens with the skills and tools needed if they encounter cyberbullying. Parents benefit too. The curriculum can alleviate parental anxiety by better informing and preparing them to navigate the digital world with their kids. Informed parents, who are aware of the addiction and anxiety that social media can cause, are poised to combat anxiety preemptively by being more conscious about their kid’s choices around digital media.

How does it work?

Experts agree that the most important media skills are social and behavioral skills, so the entire first level of Cyber Civics—and many of the following lessons—are delivered through games, role-play, discussion and debate. Cyber Civics classes are held once a week for grades 6, 7 and 8. Families receive regular updates with suggested activities to do together at home to support what students are learning in the classroom.

What else can we do?

We know that it takes a village to raise thoughtful, ethical, and smart digital citizens. You don’t have to wait until your child starts Cyber Civics classes to start conversations at home. It is so important for parents to begin early conversations around how to navigate the digital world. 

Additional Resources 

  • Cyber Wise: This is the Cyber Civics companion site for parents. It is full of resources for learning, information on how to keep kids safe online, and more.
  • Book: Raising Humans in a Digital World: Helping Kids Build a Healthy Relationship with Technology (HarperCollins Leadership), by founder Diana Graber.  
  • Common Sense Media: This site rates movies, TV shows, books, and more so parents can feel good about the entertainment choices they make for their kids. They offer parenting advice that supports families navigating the challenges and possibilities of raising kids in the digital age.
  • Wait Until 8th: The Wait Until 8th campaign is a national pledge urging parents to hold off on giving their children smartphones. Signing this pledge within a class or school empowers parents to uphold their values when kids start coming home saying that “everyone else has a phone except me!”