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Digital CitizenshipMeaning

October 19–23, 2026

Digital Citizenship Week 2026

Digital Citizenship Week 2026 runs Monday, October 19 through Friday, October 23. Schools use the week to teach safe, responsible, and respectful technology use. This year, Common Sense Education is focusing on critical thinking in a world full of AI-generated content.

A simple five-day plan

One short activity and one discussion question a day. Each takes 10 to 15 minutes and works from about grade 4 up. Adapt the examples for younger students.

  1. Monday, Oct 19 · The big idea

    What it means

    Read the one-sentence definition aloud, then have everyone rewrite it in their own words. Compare versions and pick the clearest.

    Ask: What is one thing you did online this week that affected someone else?

  2. Tuesday, Oct 20 · Digital fluency

    Real or made up?

    Show three images or headlines, one of them AI-generated or false. Have students explain how they would check each before sharing.

    Ask: What would make you stop and check before you reshare something?

  3. Wednesday, Oct 21 · Rights and responsibility

    Your digital footprint

    Students list everything they posted, liked, or commented on in the last day. Circle what they would be happy for a future coach or teacher to see.

    Ask: If a post can be screenshotted, is anything really temporary?

  4. Thursday, Oct 22 · Etiquette and empathy

    A real person on the other side

    Role-play a group chat that turns mean. Pause at each message and ask what a bystander could do instead of joining in.

    Ask: What is the difference between a joke and a pile-on?

  5. Friday, Oct 23 · Digital security

    Lock it down

    Walk through turning on two-factor login on a sample account, and make a class rule about never sharing passwords, even with friends.

    Ask: Which of your accounts would cause the most trouble if someone got into it?

For families

You do not need a lesson plan. Borrow one question from the plan above each night at dinner, and share your own answer too. Kids open up more when the adults admit their own online slip-ups. Our guide for parents has more conversation starters.

Put the nine elements on the wall

A free, printable poster of Ribble's nine elements, in plain English. Letter size, no sign-up.

Get the free poster

Common questions

When is Digital Citizenship Week 2026?

Digital Citizenship Week 2026 runs Monday, October 19 through Friday, October 23, 2026, according to Common Sense Education.

What is Digital Citizenship Week?

It is a week in October when schools set aside time to teach students how to use technology safely, responsibly, and respectfully. Common Sense Education promotes it and publishes free activities for grades K–12.

What is the Digital Citizenship Week 2026 theme?

Common Sense Education's 2026 activities focus on building students' critical thinking for a world filled with AI-generated content.

Do I need special materials to take part?

No. The five-day plan on this page needs only a whiteboard and a few example headlines. Our free nine-elements poster is a useful backdrop for the week.

Sources