Safety in a World of Uncertainty – Some Initial Reflections – Digital Safety, Wellbeing and Citizenship

I thought this would be an opportunity for me to reflect on my first three months as the Digital Safety Officer at the University – but it hasn’t been quite as straightforward.

I have thought about a lot more than digital safety and wellbeing in the last couple of months – I have been compelled, in fact, to reflect on the very essence of safety itself, and what it really means for all of us in the university community today. My term as the Digital Safety Officer is shaping up to be an inquiry into the experience of coming of age in a world that is potentially already experiencing collapse; about what it must be like to grow up in parts of the world where shootings on campus are a chilling reality for some and a haunting specter for many others; and about being a young person in a world in which existential fears are normalised by the minute.

What does safety mean in this world? It might resemble the ‘hope’ described by Gail Bradbrook, co-founder of the Extinction Rebellion, as something ‘insipid’ if it merely implies seeking comfort in the belief that everything will be fine, or that someone else will resolve the issues.” How do you ensure the university community feels safe then, when as a generation and as a species, all the safeties we culturally took for granted are, in fact, proving to be not so?

I came of age on social media. I started a secret blog and an Instagram account and connected with other anonymous poets and writers like me, who wrote in the shadows of the night. In the day, I entertained the demands of a social system that tied education’s worth with employability, and sacrificed personal exploration. I am thankful for social media; it gave me what education was supposed to – it helped me understand my life’s purpose and it gave me a community that allowed me this exploration.

Social media and the internet as a whole are different today. More and more of our digital spaces are undertaking a subscription-based model, and the early 2000s’ idea of the internet as a space for stumbling upon the most unexpected, cool, random things and characters is disappearing fast.

All this change in cultures and climates is making me think that maybe it is time for us to embrace some radical acts. Perhaps it’s time to turn towards nature and work on repair instead of trying to sustain a world that may not be designed to sustain. Maybe it’s time to revive the forgotten project of spiritual exploration and understand our purpose, and most importantly, maybe it’s time to return to community.

In this age of digital interconnectedness, we have the tools to nurture a community that transcends differences and unites in a shared endeavor – digital citizenship. It’s about not just safeguarding ourselves but also extending a hand to others grappling with the same existential dilemmas that we all face in private. It’s about understanding that our actions online have consequences, and our digital presence actually does shape the world we will live in. Our online actions can contribute to chaos, or foster a sense of belonging, empathy and understanding.

In the following blogs, I will delve deeper into the nuances of digital safety and wellbeing, offering practical guidance and resources to navigate the digital realm as a member of the university community. But for now, I would like to leave you to reflect on the profound interconnectedness of our digital lives and the power we hold to make this world a safer, more empathetic place.