Protecting The Earth Through Digital Citizenship

Happy Earth Day! 

Earth Day started in 1970 as an opportunity for people to share their support for environmental protections. For over 50 years, people across the United States and around the world have stood up for plants, animals, water, and all the elements of this beautiful planet we call home.

The fight to protect our planet has only gotten more urgent over the last 50 years. Now, digital tools are playing a critical role in organizing for environmental protections. Young activists who are leading the climate movement are highlighting the intersection between digital spaces, youth voice, and civic awareness. 

The most well-known climate activist in the world is Greta Thunberg, a Swedish teenager who began a project called “Fridays For Future.” She started by sitting outside of the Swedish parliament in the lead-up to her country’s elections, taking off school every Friday to demand that politicians address the climate crisis. Eventually, other children joined her and committed to striking until their policy demands had been addressed. 

With the power of social media and #FridaysForFuture, Thunberg’s movement went viral. Teenagers around the world started striking for climate action. Students were able to lift their voice and share the stories of how climate change is impacting their area of the world. Without social media, these stories might have gone unheard, and these students may never have chosen to speak up and fight for what’s important to them. Thanks to the digital space, they were able to connect, share, inform, and inspire a movement that now comprises millions of people. 

This is a great example of how digital citizenship can positively impact activism and the future of our planet. Fridays For Future shows how social media and the digital world are critical to education and engagement, and how one person choosing to use their voice can change the world.