From the Executive Deputy Principal
What is your responsibility online?
At St Monica’s College, Responsibility is the power to act positively.
Being responsible for the way you present yourself online is a College expectation. That means knowing your rights and what is expected of you, staying within the law, thinking about the impact of your online actions, your interactions and standing up for others.
All Monicans can use the internet in a way that protects others rather than harming them.
Monicans are expected to consider the effect on other people’s feelings, reputation or their future before they post anything online. This includes the sharing or forwarding of hurtful or negative materials. Always consider that something that may seem amusing in the moment, could potentially cause hurt and distress to others.
Challenge ideas if it is safe to do so.
Some hazardous interactions and ideas are shared online. By highlighting negativities and providing a positive perspective, you can help combat their spread. But you need to do this carefully, so you can keep yourself safe, too. If you come across unsafe or threatening ideas and it is not safe to challenge them, you can report them to a trusted adult. Ignoring these ideas makes us ‘bystanders’ and allows unhelpful concepts, to strengthen unchecked. Remember, what you ignore, you condone.
Sometimes people who share poor content may need additional or professional support — reporting could help them get the assistance they need.
Monicans can speak up.
You can act to ensure the safety of yourself and others by reporting concerning material or actions. If something feels wrong in your gut, it quite often is. It is important to speak up if you think something is wrong or has the potential to hurt other people.
Know how to block users and report issues like cyberbullying or illegal internet content.
If someone sends you a link to material or you see something online you think may be illegal, report it. If you see someone cyberbullying another young person, take the responsible approach and inform someone.
Do not assume that anything you share online is private.
Nobody can know what their friend’s friend will do with anything you post online. Almost everything can be copied and shared. Protect your privacy by thinking about what you share and use privacy settings on all social media profiles. Remember that your online reputation can also impact your prospects with future employers and academic institutions.
Be aware of your emotions every time you post online.
When you are emotionally charged, you can say and do things that you could regret later. Aggressive or threatening language can and almost always does, escalate quickly. Think before you post—or better yet, do not post it unless you have fully considered your words.
Control of your online presence.
Be responsible for shaping your online presence by managing what comes up about you in search engines or social media. If there is content about you that you do not like, report it, remove it, or post something positive to show a better side of yourself.
Understand the legal implications of your actions and the actions of others online.
Everyone is legally responsible for their own online behaviour. Stealing money or identities, sharing nude or altered images of other young people, creating malware and spam can all have serious legal penalties.
Retain evidence.
This can be useful for tracking down people doing the wrong thing, reporting issues, or getting things eliminated from online platforms.
All online users and those who may choose not to engage with social media, have the right to feel safe. Unfortunately, this may not always be the case so if you are uncomfortable with interactions or content particularly when it has the potential to cause hurt or harm to you or others, know your rights and responsibilities. Speak up, be informed and do all you can to look after yourself and those around you. If someone seems really down or you are concerned about their conduct, you do not have to manage it yourself. Encourage them to talk to a parent or trusted adult.
Above all, be appropriate in your online conduct at all times. Monicans must take responsibility for their actions, as they represent themselves, their family, and their College always.
Miss P Di Maria
Executive Deputy Principal