What are risks and benefits to self and others in the digital environment and what are schools doing about it

Within my research I have concluded that there are many risks and benefits towards ourselves and towards others within the digital environment.

Risks

According to the Australian Psychological Society (APS), the digital environment presents several risks that can negatively affect children and young people if it is not used in a balanced and safe way. One of the main risks is accessibility risk, which occurs when children spend too much time using digital devices at the expense of other important activities. Excessive screen time can reduce opportunities to spend time with family and friends, participate in physical activities such as sports, and enjoy time outdoors. This imbalance can affect a child's physical health, social skills, and overall wellbeing.

Another important risk is content risk, which involves children being exposed to harmful or inappropriate material online. Viewing this type of content can influence children's understanding of what is normal or acceptable, leading to unrealistic expectations about themselves, their peers, and society. Over time, this may negatively impact their confidence, behaviour, and mental health.

The APS also highlights contact risks, which refer to harmful interactions with others through digital technologies. One common example is cyberbullying, where individuals intentionally and repeatedly use online platforms to threaten, harass, or embarrass another person. Cyberbullying can have serious emotional and psychological effects, including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and social isolation. These risks demonstrate the importance of educating children about responsible digital behaviour and encouraging a healthy balance between online and offline activities.

Benefits

One of the greatest benefits of the digital environment is the instant access it provides to information. Through digital content libraries and online resources, students no longer need to travel to a physical library to search for books or academic materials. Instead, they can access information anytime and anywhere using a computer, tablet, or smartphone with an internet connection. This convenience allows students to study at their own pace and complete research more efficiently.

According to Astria Learning, digital libraries offer several important advantages that support education. Firstly, they provide access to a much broader range of information because digital resources are not limited by the physical space available in traditional libraries. This means students can access books, journals, articles, videos, and other learning materials from around the world. Secondly, digital libraries are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, allowing students to learn whenever it suits their schedule without being restricted by opening hours. Finally, digital libraries make finding information quick and efficient through search functions, helping students save time and focus more on learning. Overall, the digital environment has transformed education by making information more accessible, flexible, and convenient for students, improving both the learning experience and academic success.

What are schools doing about it?

Schools have now implemented a mobile phone ban within school grounds where students are require keeping devices off and away or stored within their lockers, bags or lockable pouches for the entire school day. There is reason for this it allows student to pay more attention in class, and this rules also allows students to be more social with their peers. Another way schools has adapted to the digital environment is remote learning during the 2020 covid lockdown schools moved over to the digital environment by having virtual classroom using tools such zoom and Microsoft teams to teach their class, schools also adapted to cloud platforms where teachers moves daily course assignments and grading to cloud-based learning management such google classroom and canvas