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Examining how social media and online gaming affect our friendships and groups.
Imagine you have a best friend you've talked to every day for a year, but you've never actually seen their face. Is that friendship 'real,' or is something missing?
1. Sarah tells a joke in person. Her friend laughs and sees Sarah is smiling. 2. Sarah types the same joke in a group chat: 'You're so weird.' 3. Without seeing Sarah's face, her friend thinks Sarah is being mean. 4. To fix this, Sarah adds a '😂' emoji to provide the missing social cue.
Quick Check
What is a 'social cue' that we often lose when talking online?
Answer
Body language, eye contact, or tone of voice.
1. A group of 5 friends starts a chat for a Minecraft project. 2. One friend, Leo, hasn't replied in two days. 3. Instead of ignoring him, the group leader sends a direct message: 'Hey Leo, we miss your builds! Want to join us at 4 PM?' 4. This uses Netiquette to prevent Leo from feeling 'ghosted.'
Quick Check
What does it mean to 'ghost' someone in a digital group?
Answer
To ignore someone's messages or leave them out of the conversation entirely.
Staying safe online means protecting your Digital Footprint. Never share 'PII' (Personally Identifiable Information) like your school name, home address, or passwords. Before you post or reply, use the THINK method: Is it True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, and Kind? If a situation feels 'glitchy' or uncomfortable, use the 'Block and Tell' rule: Block the user and tell a trusted adult immediately. Your safety is more important than any high score.
1. An online 'friend' you met in a game offers you a free rare skin. 2. They say: 'Just give me your password so I can log in and add it for you.' 3. You evaluate the risk: Sharing a password is a violation of safety rules. 4. You say 'No thanks' and report the player to the game moderators for trying to 'phish' your account.
Why is it easier to have a misunderstanding online than in person?
What should you do if someone in a game asks for your password to give you a prize?
In the THINK method, the 'N' stands for 'Necessary.'
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to remember all five letters of the THINK acronym and what they stand for.
Practice Activity
Next time you are in a group chat, look for someone who hasn't spoken in a while and ask them a friendly question to practice digital inclusion.