Abstract
OBJECTIVES: to identify how first-year nursing students use cyberspace and propose an orientation guide with criteria guiding the use of cyberspace. METHODS: qualitative and descriptive research, carried out with 24 nursing students from a federal public institution in Rio de Janeiro. Data collection was carried out through semi-structured interviews. Data analysis occurred using IRAMUTEQ®. The research was approved by the institution's Research Ethics Committee. RESULTS: students use cyberspace to communicate, study, find "cool things", share photos and memories. Furthermore, they are concerned about hate speech, intolerance and fake news. The good and bad sides and the types of technologies most used were also portrayed. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: the moral and ethical values of physical coexistence, together with awareness of individual responsibility, are the pillars for using cyberspace. The guide comes as an awareness tool.