Ever since the internet dawned in the last half of the 20th century, it has accelerated the development of new ways of communicating, getting information, and even shopping. With the ability to form communities not based on physical location came the need for standards of behavior for interacting over this new medium: digital citizenship.
A definition I like describes digital citizenship as developing “the skills and knowledge to effectively use the internet and other digital technology, especially in order to participate responsibly in social and civic activities” (Dictionary.com). In other words, a good digital citizen makes ethical, safe, and responsible choices online. But an even more critical component of online life for Christians is making sure we are effective witnesses for Jesus. A believer’s responsibility to “do it all for the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31) extends to their actions on computers, phones, and other devices. So here are four components of digital citizenship connected to Biblical principles:
1. Be a protector of privacy and property.
Everything online is increasingly available to the public, so we need to show love for others by keeping their information safe from misuse. Protect yourself and others with these guidelines:
• Use the privacy settings and tools at your disposal to protect your own personal information.
• Show the same respect for others by not sharing their private information without consent.
• Make sure you have permission to share photos and videos of others.
• Just as you would not steal physical possessions, do not claim the work of others as your own. Give appropriate credit when you use someone else’s words, artwork, ideas, etc.
Biblical principle: “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31).
2. Be a truth-teller.
The Bible makes it clear that God loves the truth and hates lies. So, we are responsible for making sure that any information we share online is accurate and can be plainly understood. Here are some ways to do that:
• Fact-check yourself by doing some research before sharing anything that might be questionable.
• Be aware of potential bias in reporting—looking at an issue through several sources from more than one side of an issue is a good way to get closer to the truth.
• Satire and sarcasm can be difficult to recognize in a text-only format—make sure you are abundantly clear if you use them so that your intent is not misunderstood.
• Remember that if you repost or share something (such as a link to an article), it usually implies your support unless you note otherwise—people will assume you agree with it.
Biblical principle: “Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment” (Proverbs 12:19). “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body” (Ephesians 4:25).
3. Be a thoughtful participant.
It’s very difficult, if not impossible, to take something back after posting it online. Before sharing anything, we should think about why we are posting it and what its effects on other people will be. Questions like these can help us participate responsibly in social and intellectual interactions online:
• Is the tone of my comment kind or critical?
• Am I sharing this news article to communicate something useful, or just to make people angry?
• Am I uploading this photo of myself to keep in touch with distant friends, or am I doing it to brag and make others feel inferior?
• Will I change anyone’s mind by participating in this online discussion, or does it merely make me seem argumentative?
Biblical principle: “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful” (2 Timothy 2:24). “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4: 29).
4. Be a representative of Christ.
Finally, we need to use our digital activities to have a godly witness for Christ, since we represent Him to the world as His followers. Sometimes we feel free to say things online that we wouldn’t in a face-to-face format because the computer or phone screen offers a kind of veil between our real identity and our online persona. But really, we are building a reputation and teaching people what we are like—let’s make sure our actions and words demonstrate what Jesus is like. Some things to think about:
• You’re still you online.
• Other people can learn about you from your digital footprint (your social media followers, employers, coworkers, etc.)—what you do, say, and share online builds your reputation in the real world.
• There’s another human on the other side of the screen, an image-bearer with a family, friends, parents, children, etc. God loves that person—treat them accordingly.
Biblical principle: “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20).
In summary, Christians can witness for Christ through everything they do in every corner of life. The internet has the ability to build an essentially permanent and public record of our words and digital habits. Making sure we are privacy-respecting, truth-telling, thoughtful representatives for Christ will help us have a godly witness online.
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Author Hannah Rau is a Michigan-based writer and writing tutor. Hannah earned degrees in English and rhetoric and minored in Bible. She enjoys exploring literature, media, and culture through the lens of her Christian faith. And drinking coffee. Lots of coffee.