Social Studies and Life Skills · Chapter 2
Study notes aligned to the official NEB syllabus.
Digital literacy is the ability to use digital devices, the internet and software. A person must use them confidently, safely and effectively. The purpose is to find, evaluate, create and communicate information. It is more than knowing how to switch on a smartphone or a computer.
A digitally literate person can do many things. He or she can operate basic hardware. He or she can use common applications such as a web browser, a word processor and an email client. He or she can manage files. He or she can protect personal data with passwords. He or she can tell reliable online content from unreliable content.
In Nepal, internet access has spread rapidly through mobile data. Providers such as Nepal Telecom (NTC) and Ncell offer this data. So digital literacy has become a basic life skill. It is no longer a specialist's luxury.
The importance of digital literacy is wide-ranging. First, it opens access to education. A student in a remote district can reach online notes, video lectures and e-libraries through a phone. Second, it supports employment. Most modern jobs expect at least basic computer and internet skills. Third, it gives access to government and financial services. More and more of these are online. Fourth, it protects the user. A digitally literate person is less likely to fall for fraud, fake news or online scams.
Here is an example. A Grade 11 student types an assignment in a word processor. The student searches reliable sources. The student saves and backs up the file. The student also recognises a phishing message. This is practical digital literacy.
Digital literacy also includes awareness of the digital divide. The digital divide is the gap between people who have good access to devices and the internet and people who do not. In Nepal this gap often falls along urban and rural lines.
Communication applications are software programs. They let people exchange messages, voice calls, video calls and files over the internet. In Nepal, widely used applications include Viber, WhatsApp, Messenger (Facebook Messenger), IMO and Telegram. Email is used for more formal communication.
These apps use internet data. They do not use ordinary call minutes. So they make it cheap and easy for families to stay in touch. This matters greatly in Nepal because many citizens work abroad.
Using these applications well is itself a life skill. It involves choosing the right application and the right tone for the situation. It means writing clearly. It means respecting other people's time and privacy. It also means following basic etiquette, often called netiquette.
Here is an example. A formal message to a teacher or an office should use email. It should have a proper greeting and full sentences. A quick family update can be a Viber or WhatsApp message.
A common Nepali example is a worker in a Gulf country or Malaysia. The worker makes a free video call home through IMO or Messenger. He or she can speak with family face to face.
Communication applications also help with group work. Students form subject groups on Messenger or WhatsApp. They share notes and ask questions there. Responsible use has three parts. Do not spread rumours in such groups. Do not forward unverified messages. Do not share other people's photos or numbers without their consent.
Online payment is also called digital payment. It means transferring money electronically without exchanging physical cash. It has grown quickly in Nepal. Digital wallets such as eSewa, Khalti and IME Pay are popular. Bank-to-bank services such as ConnectIPS are also used. With these, people can pay bills, recharge mobile phones and buy goods. They can also pay school fees and send money to one another from a smartphone.
Mobile banking apps from banks such as NIC Asia and Nabil also help. So do QR-code payments in shops. Together they have made digital payment part of everyday life in towns. They are reaching villages more and more.
The benefits of online payment are convenience, speed and record keeping. A person can pay an electricity bill or recharge data at any hour. There is no need to travel to an office or stand in a queue. Every transaction leaves a digital record. This record helps with budgeting. Online payment also supports financial inclusion. It brings banking services to people through a phone.
However, online payment needs care. The user must protect the secret PIN and the one-time password (OTP). Never share them with anyone. Banks never ask for them. Use only official apps. Check the recipient's details before confirming.
Here is an example. A student pays an examination or admission fee through eSewa or Khalti. The student must check the amount and the account before pressing confirm. Digital transfers are often instant and hard to reverse. Awareness of fraud is also an essential part of this skill. One example of fraud is a fake lottery or reward message that asks for an OTP.
The internet is an enormous store of information. But its value depends on the user. The user must search well and judge what is found. Effective searching is a research skill.
It begins with a clear question. Then the user chooses precise keywords instead of vague ones. A search for "causes of the Industrial Revolution notes" gives more useful results than just typing "history". A learner can narrow the results by adding specific terms. A learner can use quotation marks for exact phrases. A learner should also prefer trustworthy sources. These include educational sites, government portals and established institutions.
Evaluating the information is just as important. Anyone can publish online. Not everything is accurate. A careful student checks several things. Who produced the information? Is the source reliable and current? Does the same fact appear in more than one trustworthy place?
Here is an example. A Grade 11 student researches the federal structure of Nepal. The student should prefer an official or well-established educational source. An anonymous blog is a poor choice. The student should also cross-check facts such as the number of provinces or local units.
Finally, good research means using the material honestly. The student should understand it and rewrite it in his or her own words. The student should also acknowledge the source. Copying and pasting is plagiarism. These searching and evaluating skills change the internet. It stops being a confusing flood of content. It becomes a real library for study.
The internet and social media platforms offer great benefits. Examples of platforms are Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. They help with learning, entertainment and connection. They also give people a chance to share their own voice. But these benefits come with responsibilities. Responsible use is a crucial life skill in the digital age.
Responsible use rests on four principles. The first is protecting one's own privacy and the privacy of others. The second is behaving ethically. The third is thinking critically about content. The fourth is keeping a healthy balance.
Protecting privacy means being careful about what personal information, photographs and locations one shares. It also means using strong passwords and adjusting privacy settings.
Behaving ethically means being respectful in comments. It means avoiding cyberbullying. It also means not sharing other people's private content without consent.
Thinking critically is especially important. Social media is a major channel for misinformation and rumours. In Nepal, false or misleading posts can spread quickly on Facebook and TikTok. Sometimes they cause fear, communal tension or confusion. This can happen during events such as disasters or elections. A responsible user pauses before sharing. The user checks whether a claim comes from a credible source. The user does not forward unverified messages.
Keeping a healthy balance means managing screen time. Online activity should not harm studies, sleep, physical health or face-to-face relationships. Too much use can lead to distraction, eye strain and anxiety.
Here is an example. A student verifies a shocking news post before resharing it. The student limits late-night scrolling before an exam. The student treats others online as politely as in person. This student is using the internet and social media responsibly. In this way the user enjoys the opportunities of the digital world. The user also avoids its harms, both to himself or herself and to society.