Learning how to recognise and manage risk, learn from difficult experiences, recover and stay well, is a vital part of individual development and agency.

Digital technologies are present in most areas of life. People socialise, explore, create and work in digital environments. Organisations, groups and communities are increasingly connected as technology becomes more pervasive.

People will encounter risks during these online experiences and it is neither possible nor desirable to shield them entirely from risk. Learning how to recognise and manage risk, learn from difficult experiences, recover and stay well, is a vital part of individual development and agency.

Digital resilience is a dynamic personality asset that grows from digital activation i.e. through engaging with appropriate opportunities and challenges online, rather than through avoidance and safety behaviours. 

How is it established?

It is primarily built through experience rather than learnt, fostered by opportunities to confide in trusted others and later reflect upon online challenges. Growing self-control and an ability to recognise what is harmful, and respond appropriately, are key aspects.

How is it developed?

It is developed through online activities in safe, managed environments which enable knowledge, skills and confidence for the individual to develop and cope with the negative consequences of online stress. This goes hand in hand with appropriate support and guidance the individual may want or need. Having support to recover and re-engage with digital opportunities is equally important.

Digital resilience is not a fixed state. It is a dynamic personality asset, meaning people can be more or less resilient depending on their environment, experiences and circumstances at any given time. Families, carers, educators, policy makers, frontline service workers and industry all have a role to play in making sure that they are contributing to an ecosystem that supports resilience and does not undermine it.

When thinking about supporting resilience it is important to remember that online, just as offline, there are complex social interactions with internal and external factors, as well as assets and deficits that impact users.

Internal factors might be vulnerabilities, such as feeling isolated, longing for a sense of belonging, searching for an identity or experiencing mental and cognitive health issues. This could lead to a person - knowingly or unknowingly - seeking something that could be harmful to them.

External factors, like the actions of those who deliberately target vulnerable people online, also need to be considered. Thinking about the most appropriate ways to support digital resilience involves balancing these factors in order to create environments which foster resilience.