Cyber hygiene in the educational environment: fostering safe digital behavior among participants in the educational process

Abstract

Abstract. Problem Statement. In the contemporary educational environment, digital technologies and online communication have become an integral part of the learning process, providing new opportunities for instruction, interaction, and socialization for both students and educators. At the same time, the active use of digital resources generates risks to the safety of educational participants, including cyberbullying, information manipulation, excessive psychological strain, privacy violations, and uncontrolled use of personal data. The absence of systematic digital security training and insufficient digital competence among students, teachers, and parents increases the likelihood of negative consequences arising from the use of information and communication technologies. This underscores the urgent need to cultivate principles of cyber hygiene among all participants in the educational process – skills for safe and responsible digital behavior, the ability to critically evaluate information, avoid risks, and counteract harmful phenomena online.