Rapid developments in digital technology and the extensive use of the internet among adolescents have significantly transformed patterns of communication, learning processes, and social interaction. Nevertheless, the widespread adoption of digital technologies has concurrently exposed secondary school students to a range of cyber risks, including cyberbullying, privacy breaches, online fraud, and the dissemination of false information. In this regard, digital citizenship is increasingly regarded as a promising approach to fostering safer, more ethical, and responsible engagement with technology. However, systematic syntheses examining the role of digital citizenship as a protective mechanism against cyber risks remain limited. Accordingly, this study seeks to investigate this role through a Systematic Literature Review (SLR). Guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework, a total of 20 empirical articles published between 2015 and 2025 were selected from Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), Google Scholar, ERIC, and MyCite databases. The analysis reveals a notable gap between students’ awareness of cyber risks and their actual safety practices. The findings indicate that digital citizenship education functions as an effective protective buffer when it integrates ethical principles, moral values, and religious foundations, and is further strengthened by innovative pedagogical approaches such as gamification. The novelty of this study lies in its integration of cyber safety perspectives, digital citizenship education, and moral values within a comprehensive protective framework. From a social science perspective, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of how knowledge, behaviour, and moral values shape the development of responsible and resilient digital citizens. In conclusion, the cultivation of internal character and the internalisation of ethical values are critical factors in nurturing a digital generation capable of navigating increasingly complex cyber threats.
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