Empowering Peers in Digital Spaces

By: Anthea Yuen | Seasonal Public Relations Intern | Digital4Good

Social media and other digital spaces have become a common place for daily interaction and communication. With the growth of communication online, social media has also become a platform for empowerment. Students with big ideas are able to share them via social media and can inspire their peers to then empower themselves and others. 

Through campaigns and movements on social media, students have been able to bring attention to issues like climate change and promote their ideas involving their communities. Digital spaces, such as social media, give students the opportunity to reach audiences all over the country and even world. 

Tips for Empowering Students

There is no one way to be empowering in digital spaces. It is possible to be empowering whether you are spearheading a new project or if you are showing support for a project or cause you believe in. Here are a few tips on empowering others online.

Build Community

Building communities around similar interests or goals are a great way for students to connect with like-minded individuals. Within these communities students can go to their peers for advice and connect with people who can relate to their experiences. Students can also be empowered within these communities to start or support projects surrounding their joint-interests. 

Promote Positivity

Promoting and maintaining positivity online is central to student empowerment online. Positivity online allows for students to feel comfortable within the digital spaces to express themselves and their creativity. Students are able to foster behaviors such as optimism and confidence that often translates into their work and back into the digital space. By creating a positive digital space, students are empowered to create new projects or support those in their communities.

Work with Others

Collaboration is key to empowering students. When students work together, they are able to share ideas and use each other's strengths to solve problems. Working with others allows for students to be open to receiving feedback by creating a space for students to comfortably agree and disagree. When students work together with their peers, it cultivates an environment where each student is empowering one another and boosting their overall self-confidence. 

Digital4Good Resources

Our organization is dedicated to the education of students and teachers in regards to digital literacy and digital citizenship. With the focus of our organization relating to empowerment online, we have many resources for starting the journey to empowering yourself and others. 

Internship Program

Digital4Good offers internships for students from middle school to college. The internship program is a community of people dedicated to educating others on digital literacy and citizenship. Interns empower each other through collaboration on projects and the work that is done serves as empowerment of the students we are trying to reach. More information about the internship can be found at icanhelp.net/internship-program. 

Start A Club: Club Starter kit

Starting a Digital4Good club is also a great way for empowering your fellow students. With your peers you can create a supportive community and become digital changemakers. At icanhelp.net/start-a-club you can find resources for starting a Digital4Good club and resources for club activities and contests.  

Why Empowerment is Important

Empowerment is important in the construction of community. It is important to show support for those you believe in and to stand up for the causes you care for and relate to. Empowered individuals are the ones to step up and make differences in and strengthen their communities. To learn more about digital wellness and empowerment visit our website at icanhelp.net.