DIGITAL LITERACY SKILLS

What is Digital
Literacy
1. Ability to use digital technologies ethically, responsibly and
critically to access, evaluate, create and share information in
different social contexts (Santos & Gomes, 2023)
2. Digital literacy is the ability to understand and use
information in multiple formats from various sources when
presented via computers (Johnston, 2020)
3. The skills required to achieve digital competence include the
confident and critical use of information and communication
technology for work, leisure, and communication (Lee &
Fanea-Ivanovici, 2023).
IMPORTANCE OF DIGITAL LITERACY
SKILLS

1. Improved employability
Many jobs now require basic digital skills, making digital literacy essential for career
advancement.

2. Enhanced learning
Digital literacy helps students access and utilise online resources, improving their
learning experience.

3. Increased accessibility
Digital literacy enables people to access online information, services, and
opportunities, bridging the digital divide.

4. Better communication
Digital literacy facilitates effective online communication, connecting people globally.
IMPORTANCE OF DIGITAL LITERACY
SKILLS…cont
1Improved digital citizenship
Digital literacy promotes responsible technology use, online safety, and digital etiquette.

6. Enhanced civic engagement

Digital literacy enables citizens to participate in online civic activities like voting and advocacy.
7. Increased digital inclusion
• Digital literacy helps marginalised groups access and utilise digital technologies.
8. Financial inclusion
• Digital literacy facilitates online financial transactions, improving financial management and
service access.
 DIGITAL COMPETENCY

To be digitally literate, one must demonstrate five key competencies:

1. Information and data literacy

∙ To define what information is needed to find and access digital data and content
∙ To evaluate the credibility and reliability of the source and its content
∙ To collect, organise, and manage digital data, information, and content in a way that
makes it valuable and accessible.
 DIGITAL COMPETENCY…cont

Communication and collaboration

∙ Effectively using digital tools to engage with others, share ideas, and work together while
considering the perspectives of diverse cultures and age groups.
∙ Actively contributing to society by accessing public and private digital services and
participating in online civic activities.
∙ Additionally, maintaining a responsible and intentional online presence, protecting
personal information, and cultivating a positive digital reputation.
∙ To effectively handle and manage the data generated through various digital platforms,
tools, and services, ensuring control and privacy.
 DIGITAL COMPETENCY…cont

3. Digital content creation

∙ To create, edit and modify digital content in different formats.
∙ To understand how copyright and licences apply to data, information and digital content.
∙ Additionally, to possess the ability to provide clear and concise instructions that a
computer system can understand and execute.
 DIGITAL COMPETENCY…cont

4. Safety
∙ To safeguard digital devices, content, personal information, and privacy in online spaces.
∙ To protect devices and digital content and to understand risks and threats in digital
environments. To know about safety and security measures and to have due regard to
reliability and privacy.
∙ To protect personal data and privacy in digital environments. To understand how to use
and share personally identifiable information while protecting oneself and others from
damage.
 DIGITAL COMPETENCY…cont

5. Problem solving
∙ To identify technical problems when operating devices and using digital environments
and to solve them (from troubleshooting to solving more complex problems).
∙ To stay current and adapt to the rapid pace of digital transformation, embracing new
technologies and advancements as they emerge.
∙ To understand where one’s digital competence needs to be improved or updated and to
support others with their digital competence development.
Summary of Digital Competencies for Citizens
 DIGITAL
COMMUNICATION
TOOLS
• Communication that utilises technological platforms, tools, and channels to convey information,
ideas, and messages is considered digital communication.

• Methods of digital communication, known as digital channels, encompass a range of platforms,

including

1. Email

2. Voice calls

3. Video conferencing

4. Real-time messaging, such as text messages (SMS) and online chats.

 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN DIGITAL
COMMUNICATION
Responsibility for posting
• Please exercise caution when sharing content online, as it can persist indefinitely and be difficult to remove entirely. Please refrain from posting
material that may be harmful, offensive, or derogatory towards others, as it can have lasting consequences and impact your online reputation.

Legal Reasons (Limits of freedom of expression)

• Free speech has limits. Be mindful of defamation, hate speech, and personal data protection. Violations can lead to legal issues.
Online Reputation
• Online anonymity is an illusion. Law enforcement can trace your internet activity, and sharing offensive content can harm your personal and
professional life, now and in the future.
Copyright And Licenses
∙ When sharing content that does not belong to you, ensure you have the necessary permissions or rights. Commercial content is protected by copyright
law, and using it without explicit authorisation from the copyright owner can be a violation.
STAYING SAFE IN THE DIGITAL
ENVIRONMENT

A computer virus is a
self-replicating
program that modifies
other programs by
Viruses Spyware
infecting them with its
code, similar to how
biological viruses
spread within a host. Malware is a term for
harmful software,
Spyware is malicious
including viruses and
software that installs
trojans, that disrupts
secretly on your
systems, steals
device to monitor your
information, and gains
online activities and
Malware unauthorized access.
share personal
It can exploit your
information without
device's resources,
your consent, posing a
compromise privacy,
threat to your privacy
and turn infected
and security.
computers into bots for
Ransomware is criminal activities.
malicious software that
holds your data
hostage and demands
Ransomware
payment to restore
access or prevent
the public disclosure of
sensitive information.
STAYING SAFE IN THE DIGITAL
ENVIRONMENT.. cont

Phishing is a social engineering

tactic where attackers use fake
messages to trick victims into
revealing sensitive information or
Phishing
installing malware, often by
creating convincing replicas of
legitimate sites to steal data and
bypass security.

Spam refers to sending large

amounts of unsolicited messages
through email, social media,
messaging apps, and text
Spam messages. Despite effective
spam filters, spam can spread
malware when recipients open
malicious attachments or click on
embedded links.
 Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying involves using technology to harass, intimidate, or harm others
through online platforms, messaging apps, or mobile phones. This includes
sending offensive messages, creating harmful websites, sharing embarrassing
Behavioural photos or videos, or posting hurtful comments, causing emotional distress.
Cyberstalking
Threats and Risks Cyberstalking is using the Internet or other electronic means to stalk or harass
Through Online an individual, a group or an organisation.
Trolling
Harassment Trolling involves intentionally provoking and disrupting online communities
by posting inflammatory or off-topic content designed to elicit emotional
responses, spark arguments, or hijack discussions for the troll's amusement or
to create chaos.
Sexting
Sexting is the sharing of explicit or suggestive content through digital means,
which can lead to severe legal and reputational consequences. Shared content
may spread widely on social media or other platforms, causing long-term
harm to one's reputation and well-being.
 STRATEGIES FOR
STAYING SAFE ON THE
INTERNET
Personal Digital Footprint, Identity and Privacy
A digital footprint is data left by users on digital services, including websites visited, passwords entered, and media
posted. Privacy settings control who can access this information and how much is visible, while privacy itself refers to
the level of control a person has over their personal information.
Protect Your Devices
Essential digital security measures include using anti-virus and firewall software, pop-up blockers, and anti-spyware for
extra protection. Keep software updated with security patches and operating system updates, configuring automatic
updates when possible. Use strong passwords with letters, numbers, and special characters to protect your PC, email,
and internet connections.
Downloading Content Online
Only download software and files from trusted sources, verify the authenticity of the source, and exercise caution with
links from unknown or unverified senders to avoid suspicious links and potential threats.
Sensitive Information
As a precaution, avoid sharing sensitive information like financial details via email. Use secure payment methods such
as PayPal and Visa. Never email sensitive credentials like usernames and passwords. Regularly back up your data on an
external hard drive and use unique passwords for your most sensitive accounts for maximum security.