IC3 - Digital Literacy Digital Citizenship and Ethics Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student creating a presentation for a school project finds a compelling photograph online. To ethically use this image, which of the following is the BEST course of action?
- Copy the image and use it, assuming it's okay for educational purposes.
- Find an image with a Creative Commons license that permits reuse or is in the public domain. (Correct answer)
- Use the image but include the photographer's name somewhere in the presentation.
- Take a screenshot of the image to avoid direct downloading.
Correct answer: Find an image with a Creative Commons license that permits reuse or is in the public domain.
Simply copying an image likely infringes on the creator's copyright. While citing the photographer is good practice, it does not grant permission to use a copyrighted work. The most ethically sound and legally safe approach is to find an image that is explicitly licensed for reuse, such as those under a Creative Commons license or works that are in the public domain.
Question 2: Which of the following BEST describes a person's "digital footprint"?
- The physical size of all the files stored on their personal computer.
- The security software they have installed to protect their online identity.
- The collective trail of data, posts, and interactions they leave online. (Correct answer)
- The list of websites they have bookmarked in their web browser.
Correct answer: The collective trail of data, posts, and interactions they leave online.
A digital footprint is the record of a person's online activity, including social media posts, search history, comments, and photos. It is not about local file size, the security software used, or private browser bookmarks.
Question 3: While participating in an online community, a user begins receiving repeated, hostile, and insulting messages from another player. What is the MOST appropriate first step to take in this situation?
- Immediately respond to the messages with an equally aggressive tone.
- Post the messages publicly on social media to expose the other player.
- Delete your account and stop participating in the community to avoid contact.
- Block the other user and report their behavior to the platform's moderators. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Block the other user and report their behavior to the platform's moderators.
Engaging with a cyberbully or publicizing the conflict can escalate the situation. The most effective and recommended first step is to use the platform's built-in tools to block the user and report the harassment to administrators, who can take appropriate action.
Question 4: Which of the following is an example of poor netiquette in a professional online setting?
- Using a clear and descriptive subject line in an email.
- Proofreading a message for spelling and grammar errors before sending.
- TYPING A MESSAGE IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. (Correct answer)
- Including a professional signature with your contact information.
Correct answer: TYPING A MESSAGE IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS.
Using all capital letters in online communication is widely interpreted as shouting or being aggressive and is considered poor netiquette. The other options are all examples of good professional netiquette that facilitate clear and respectful communication.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of the "Fair Use" doctrine in copyright law?
- To allow anyone to use any copyrighted work as long as they don't make a profit from it.
- To permit the limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes like criticism, commentary, and education. (Correct answer)
- To ensure that all creative works automatically enter the public domain after five years.
- To give the original creator exclusive rights to their work for their entire lifetime.
Correct answer: To permit the limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes like criticism, commentary, and education.
Fair Use is a legal doctrine that promotes freedom of expression by permitting the unlicensed use of copyright-protected works in specific circumstances, such as for criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. It is not an unlimited right and is determined by a four-factor test.
Question 6: You receive an email with the subject "Urgent: Your Account is Suspended!" from what appears to be your bank. The email asks you to click a link and enter your username and password to reactivate your account. Which element of this scenario is the BIGGEST indicator of a potential phishing attempt?
- The bank is communicating with you via email.
- The subject line creates a sense of urgency.
- The email asks for sensitive information like a password via a link. (Correct answer)
- The email was sent outside of normal business hours.
Correct answer: The email asks for sensitive information like a password via a link.
Legitimate organizations, especially banks, will almost never ask you to provide sensitive information like your password by clicking a link in an email. While creating a sense of urgency is a common tactic, the direct request for credentials via a link is the most definitive red flag of a phishing scam.
A student creating a presentation for a school project finds a compelling photograph online.
To ethically use this image, which of the following is the BEST course of action?