Consent and Boundaries in the Digital World
A lesson exploring digital consent, personal boundaries, and respectful communication online for secondary students.
Overview
Consent and boundaries are not just about physical interactions — they apply to every aspect of digital life. This lesson explores consent in contexts students encounter daily: sharing photos, forwarding messages, tagging people, group chat etiquette, and respecting other people's digital choices. It empowers students to set their own boundaries and respect those of others.
Learning Objectives
- •Understand consent as an ongoing process that applies to digital interactions
- •Recognise situations where digital consent is needed but often overlooked
- •Develop confidence to set and communicate personal digital boundaries
- •Understand the impact of sharing others' content without permission
Activities
Consent beyond the physical
10 minutesBrainstorm as a class: in what digital situations do you need someone's consent? Build a comprehensive list including sharing photos, forwarding messages, adding to group chats, tagging in posts, sharing location, and screen recording calls.
Scenario stations
20 minutesStudents rotate through four stations, each presenting a scenario about digital consent (e.g. sharing a friend's photo without asking, adding someone to a group chat they did not agree to join, screenshot a private conversation). At each station they discuss what went wrong and what should have happened.
Setting your own boundaries
15 minutesStudents write three personal digital boundaries they want others to respect (e.g. 'do not tag me without asking', 'do not add me to group chats without checking'). Discuss why communicating boundaries clearly is important and not rude.
Commitment cards
10 minutesEach student writes a personal commitment about how they will respect others' digital consent going forward. These are private but can be shared voluntarily.
Discussion Points
- •Is it okay to screenshot a private conversation and share it with someone else?
- •What should you do if a friend posts a photo of you that you do not like?
- •How do you set a boundary with a friend without damaging the friendship?
- •Why is it important to ask before adding someone to a group chat?
Key Takeaways
- •Digital consent means asking before you share, tag, forward, or include someone in something online
- •Setting boundaries is healthy and necessary — it is not rude
- •Respecting others' digital boundaries is a core part of being a good friend and a responsible person online
This content is designed to support professionals in their safeguarding role. It does not replace your organisation's safeguarding policies or training requirements.
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Last reviewed: 2026-03-29