Girl Scouts & Google Empower Youth with Digital Wellbeing Skills
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Google is partnering with Girl Scouts of the USA to launch the new “Be Internet Awesome” Digital Leadership badge, supported by a $1 million Google.org grant. This initiative aims to equip girls with essential skills for safe, productive, and responsible engagement with technology, fostering digital wellbeing from kindergarten through 12th grade nationwide.
Digital wellbeing is defined as the state of being healthy, happy, and connected in a digital world. It emphasizes empowering individuals to make intentional choices about their technology use, ensuring it enhances rather than detracts from their overall lives. The program's foundation is built upon the five pillars of “Be Internet Awesome”: Share with Care, Don't Fall for Fake, Secure Your Secrets, It's Cool to Be Kind, and When in Doubt, Talk It Out.
The benefits of cultivating digital wellbeing are extensive, including improved mental health, stronger real-world relationships, enhanced productivity, and a greater sense of control over one's digital life. By participating, girls learn to proactively manage screen time, avoid digital overload, and foster positive online interactions, ultimately integrating technology as a beneficial tool.
The program directly addresses significant risks associated with digital engagement, such as cyberbullying, the spread of misinformation, potential privacy breaches, and the pitfalls of excessive screen time. It educates girls on critical thinking to discern fake news, practical strategies to protect personal information, and mechanisms for reporting harmful content. Crucially, it encourages open communication with trusted adults regarding online experiences.
Specific badge activities provide hands-on learning: girls practice identifying phishing scams by analyzing suspicious emails, learn responsible social media posting by considering impact, and understand privacy settings on various platforms. They develop empathy by reflecting on online comments, create personal media balance plans, and engage in role-playing scenarios to navigate cyberbullying or uncomfortable situations. The curriculum also includes researching reliable sources to combat misinformation effectively. This comprehensive approach aims to cultivate a generation of confident and responsible digital leaders.
(Source: https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/google-org/girl-scouts-digital-wellbeing/)
