Why Schools Should Choose Cyber Civics in 2025: A Social Worker's Perspective on Digital Well-Being and Readiness

As a Licensed Master Social Worker working closely with adolescents, I’ve seen firsthand how today’s digital world shapes the minds, behaviors, and emotional landscapes of our students. Screens are ever-present. Social media is omnipresent. AI is evolving faster than we can regulate it. And misinformation? It spreads with a tap.

In the digital environment of 2025, our students don’t just need academic literacy—they need digital literacy. They need skills to think critically, communicate respectfully, protect their privacy, and understand the weight of their digital footprints. They need support to manage screen time, navigate cyberbullying, and build self-worth in a world of likes and filters. That’s why, for the 2025 school year, I wholeheartedly recommend Cyber Civics.

A Curriculum Built for Today’s Challenges—and Tomorrow’s

Cyber Civics isn’t just a set of lessons. It’s a comprehensive, research-backed digital literacy curriculum that meets students where they are, developmentally and digitally. Designed for late elementary and middle school—the age when most students begin navigating the internet independently—Cyber Civics helps them do so with confidence, compassion, and critical thinking.

Aligned with national standards and deeply grounded in educational best practices, Cyber

Civics teaches three key areas:

• Digital Citizenship: Teaching kids how to act safely, ethically, and responsibly online.

• Information Literacy: Equipping them to spot misinformation, evaluate sources, and make informed decisions.

• Media Literacy: Helping them understand how media shapes perceptions—and how to respond with awareness.

Supporting Social-Emotional Wellness in the Digital Age

One of the most compelling aspects of Cyber Civics is its built-in support for social-emotional learning (SEL). As a mental health professional, I cannot overstate how crucial this is.

Each lesson fosters discussions about identity, empathy, respect, and resilience. It gives students language for their digital experiences—whether they’re grappling with FOMO, peer pressure on social media, or online harassment. Teachers often tell us that these lessons open up classroom conversations that otherwise might never happen.

By connecting digital behaviors to emotional outcomes, Cyber Civics creates safer, more thoughtful school communities.

Empowering Educators with Confidence and Ease

Educators today are stretched thin. Between curriculum mandates, behavioral challenges, and tech overload, adding “teach digital literacy” to their plates can feel overwhelming. Cyber Civics gets it.

That’s why the curriculum is teacher-friendly and turnkey. No tech expertise required.

Everything is provided—lesson plans, student handouts, assessment tools, and video content—so teachers can focus on what they do best: connecting with students.

With a 98% renewal rate, schools keep coming back because Cyber Civics works. It’s easy to implement, deeply engaging, and continuously updated to stay relevant with emerging tech trends like AI, screen time research, and online safety concerns.

The Time to Act Is Now

AI-generated content is blurring the lines between fact and fiction. Screen time is linked to increasing levels of anxiety and depression among youth. Cyberbullying, sextortion, and online predators are real threats. Meanwhile, students are using technology younger than ever—often with little to no guidance.

If we want to prepare students for the real world, we must prepare them for the digital world. And that means prioritizing digital literacy now—not after another viral misinformation crisis or social media scandal.

Join the Movement for Digital Literacy

As we enter the 2025 school year, I urge school leaders, curriculum coordinators, and educators to make digital literacy a foundational part of your educational mission. Cyber Civics isn’t just a smart choice—it’s a necessary one.

Let’s raise a generation that uses technology not only skillfully but wisely. Let’s give students the tools to be kind, critical, and ethical online. Let’s support our teachers with resources that truly make a difference.

💡 Schedule a free Cyber Civics demo today to see how easily you can bring this transformative program into your classrooms: cybercivics.com/scheduledemo

Together, we can help students thrive—both online and off.

About the Author:

Connor Cohen, LMSW

Connor joined the Cyber Civics team in 2023 with experience in both social work and marketing. In 2020 he earned his LMSW in Texas where he worked as a therapist in a private practice. He made the switch from direct practice to marketing and worked with therapists to help market the profession and practice. Connor now works for Cyber Civics and Cyberwise. After earning his Bachelors in English, Political Science and Counseling from the University of North Texas, he went on to receive his Masters in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. Continuing his studies, he earned a certificate in Digital Marketing from the University of Texas in 2022. He resides in Houston, TX with his fiancee and dog Leia. Connor feels that his role at Cyberwise and Cybercivics is the perfect place to make the much needed changes that help promote the mission of increasing digital literacy and online safety.