Digital commerce can be defined by the electronic buying and selling of goods.  When considering the elements of digital citizenship, the issues surrounding digital commerce and young adults are easily overlooked.  Although savvy users of technology, young adults are not always conscious of the dangers associated with online buying and selling.  Purchasing items electronically can appear to be a quick and easy solution to the sometimes time-intensive prospect of shopping in retail stores.  Moreover, digitally-delivered products, like games and music, can be especially easy to purchase electronically, particularly if one has account set up with a vendor using a credit card.  When it comes to young adults, however, even though “digital natives,” there isn’t necessarily the recognition that online purchasing, regardless of the product, can have numerous negative consequences. 

As educators, just as we instruct students in using technology responsibly and safely when participating in collaborative online environments or effectively searching the Internet for valid, reliable information, we must also make sure that students are taught consumer-awareness and safe practices when conducting electronic purchases.  Digitally locating and identifying reputable merchants and reasonably priced items through comparison shopping is a skill that can easily be imparted to students.   It is imperative to coach students how to electronically cost compare, evaluate a merchant’s website for authenticity, and determine if a merchant’s purchasing process is secure.  Moreover, students are often not knowledgeable about the dangers of identity theft and how uninformed online purchasing practices can lead to poor credit ratings.  As educators navigating both the opportunities and drawbacks that technology brings to our students, it is imperative to be mindful of and responsive to their need for accurate, dependable support in the world of digital commerce.