When we realized that the digital world had become part of everyday life

January 2026

“I just wrote my opinion.”

Tanja said this somewhat agitatedly as she described a situation on social media. She had left a comment under a post about a local event. Someone replied to her sharply, almost insultingly. The discussion quickly escalated.

“I didn’t mean anything bad,” she added. “But then everyone got involved.”

Silence fell over the classroom. Most of the participants had had a similar experience. The digital space has become a public square where words are visible, permanent, and accessible to a wider audience.

This was no longer a discussion about using an app. It was a discussion about behavior.

In the past, conversations were limited to a specific space

If you expressed an opinion in the past, you did so within a specific circle of people. In a pub, at a meeting, among friends. The words stayed within that space. Even if they were harsh, they weren’t permanently recorded.

Today, a comment under a post can be read by hundreds of people. It can be shared, saved, quoted.

The digital world is not separate from the real world. It is an extension of it.

DigComp Competence 2.5—netiquette—goes beyond technical knowledge. It is about understanding the rules of conduct in the digital environment. About respect, responsibility, and awareness of consequences.

Between Freedom of Expression and Responsibility

When we analyzed Ms. Tanja’s situation with the participants, we didn’t discuss whether she was right or wrong. We considered how a written opinion comes across without the tone of voice or facial expressions.

“Maybe it came across as harsher than I intended,” she admitted.

Digital communication requires extra attention. Irony isn’t always recognized. Humor isn’t always understood.

Netiquette isn’t a list of rules. It’s an awareness that we’re in a shared space.

Digital Inclusion as a Responsibility

At UPI Žalec, we’ve noticed that a digital presence also fosters a sense of inclusion. Participants follow local news, engage in discussions, and share information.

This is positive. It signifies active citizenship.

But at the same time, it requires responsibility. Verifying information. A respectful tone. The awareness that there are people sitting on the other side of the screen.

The next time Ms. Tanja commented on a post, she said, “I read it over once more before I posted.”

It wasn’t about self-censorship. It was about reflection.

Organizational Reflection

As an educational institution, we asked ourselves how we communicate on digital platforms. Do we foster a culture of respectful dialogue? Do we respond to inappropriate comments? Do we also teach participants about digital responsibility?

The project showed us that digital literacy is not just a technical skill. It is also an ethical stance.

The Digital World as Everyday Life

Today, there is hardly any area of life that does not have a digital dimension. Applications, notifications, communication, public debates.

The digital space is no longer an optional extra. It is part of everyday life.

Once we accept this, we understand that our online behavior is not separate from our personality. It is a reflection of it.

At the end of the conversation, Ms. Tanja said: “Clearly, we need to think the same way online as we do in real life.”

Perhaps this is precisely where the shift in thinking lies. The digital world is not something else. It is an extension of our relationships.

And if we want this space to be safe, inclusive, and respectful, we must enter it with the same sense of responsibility that we expect from others.