In this lesson, you will discover:

• What online spaces are and why they are wonderful
• Different kinds, such as social spots for sharing with friends, learning spots for school activities, gaming spots for adventures, information spots for news and facts, and community spots for your favourite hobbies
• How to spot safe actions (like being kind and careful) and risky ones (like sharing too much about yourself)

Online spaces are different digital places on the internet where people can talk to each other, learn new things, have fun, or share information. These are not real places you can touch, but special areas you can visit using devices like computers, tablets, or smartphones.

For example, think about platforms like Instagram, where you can share photos and chat with friends, or your school's website, where you can do homework and find learning materials. These spaces help people from all over the world to connect, talk easily, and work together, even if they are far apart.

It is important to know that, just like real places such as playgrounds or libraries, online spaces have their own rules to keep everyone safe and happy. Following these rules helps make sure that your time online is positive and secure for you and others.

Online spaces can be grouped by what they are mainly used for. Let us look at the different types in more detail:

Social Spaces

Social spaces are made for connecting with friends, family, and people you know. Examples include platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter), and Snapchat. In these places, you can share updates about your day, photos, and messages. This helps you stay in touch with others, even if they live far away. It is important to use these spaces carefully. Make sure what you share is suitable, and change your privacy settings to keep your information safe.

Educational Spaces

Educational spaces are for learning and finding out new things. You are using one right now – Coding Ireland! These spaces have resources to help with homework, explore subjects deeply, and learn facts through lessons and activities. They give you a way to learn more outside of your usual classroom.

Gaming Spaces 

Gaming spaces are online places for playing games, often with other people. Popular examples include FIFA, Fortnite, and Minecraft servers. Here, you can work with teammates, play against friends, or explore exciting worlds. These spaces help you be creative and think strategically. However, it is important to balance your gaming time with other activities and to be respectful to other players.

Informational Spaces

Informational spaces are like libraries of news, facts, and research. Examples include Wikipedia and child-friendly news websites such as RTÉ news2day. These places are useful for looking up topics, keeping up with current events, and finding information for school projects. Always check if the information is correct by looking at other trusted sources.

Community Spaces

Community spaces bring together people who like the same things or hobbies. You can find them on forums like Reddit or fan sites for books, films, and other topics. In these spaces, you can join discussions, share ideas, and make friends with people who have similar interests. They help you work together and learn from each other, but remember to follow the rules to keep everything positive.

It is important to understand good behaviour in online spaces. Using safe behaviours helps you enjoy these places securely and responsibly. Risky behaviours can lead to dangers or problems. In this section, we will look at examples of safe and risky behaviours. This will help you make good choices to protect yourself and others.

Safe Behaviours

Safe behaviours are actions that help create a secure and positive online experience. By following these, you can reduce risks and help build a respectful online community. Here are some examples:

• Seek permission before joining: Always ask a parent, guardian, or teacher before entering a new online space. This makes sure the platform is right for your age and interests.
• Utilise privacy settings: Change your account's privacy controls to decide who can see your information and posts. This helps protect your personal details from people who should not see them.
• Reflect before posting: Stop and think about what you are sharing – is it kind, true, and something you would say to someone's face? Thinking carefully helps avoid mix-ups and encourages good interactions.
• Report inappropriate content: If you see bullying, strange messages, or worrying behaviour, tell a trusted adult right away. Reporting helps keep the space safe for everyone.
• Log out securely: Always sign out of your accounts when you are done, especially on shared or public devices. This stops others from using your information without permission.

Risky Behaviours

Risky behaviours are actions that can cause harm to you or others, and you should avoid them. Knowing about these helps you stay away from problems in online spaces. Examples include:

• Sharing personal information: Telling strangers things like your full name, address, school, or phone number can put your safety and privacy at risk.
• Interacting with unknown links: Clicking on links or downloads you do not know can bring viruses or bad software to your device. This might cause you to lose data or have security problems.
• Engaging in negative interactions: Arguing, bullying, or posting mean comments online can hurt people's feelings and lead to bigger arguments.
• Excessive screen time: Spending too much time online without breaks can affect your health, sleep, and how you feel overall.
• Impersonating others: Pretending to be someone else can cause confusion, tricks, or problems with trust in online groups.

Now it is time for you to use what you have learned about safe and risky behaviours in online spaces. This activity will help you practise making good decisions in a situation that could happen in real life. By thinking about the scenario and writing your answers, you will get better at staying safe and confident online.

Scenario: Imagine you are playing in a gaming space, such as Fortnite, and a new player you have just met in the game asks for your real name and where you live. They say it is to 'team up better' and make the game more fun.

What should you do? Take a moment to think carefully about the situation. Then, think about and write down your answers to the following questions. You can use a piece of paper, a notebook, or a notes app on your device:

1. Is this request safe or risky? Explain why, using examples of safe and risky behaviours from the previous section.
2. What safe behaviour could you use to handle this situation in a responsible way?
3. How would you respond to the player?