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/lp/ios-press/relating-digital-citizenship-to-informed-citizenship-online-in-the-wO31n8EuGS
- Publisher
- IOS Press
- Copyright
- Copyright © 2015 IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved
- ISSN
- 1570-1255
- eISSN
- 1875-8754
- DOI
- 10.3233/IP-150375
- Publisher site
- See Article on Publisher Site
Abstract
This study examines the relationship between the concept of the digital andinformed online citizen. To begin, the paper provides an overview of digitaland informed citizenship. Next, the study proposes a problematicrelationship between digital and informed citizenship by emphasizingbarriers to informed citizenship online. Scholars have noted the influenceof socioeconomic factors to explain differential uses of the Internetespecially for political participation online. Citizens who are motivatedand interested in politics tend to be wealthy and well-educated.Furthermore, media scholars contend that environments rich in contentchoices, such as the Internet, may contribute to a voluntary segmentation ofthe electorate. This leads to a situation where many citizens abandon newsin favor of entertainment contributing to an unequal distribution ofpolitical resources and skills. Despite these concerns, the study finds thatdigital citizenship, understood as frequent home Internet use with a highspeed connection, is a strong characteristic of the informed online citizen.Results suggest that digital citizenship may be particularly important foryoung citizens to develop their political information efficacy. The futureimplications for digital and informed citizenship in the Internet age arediscussed.
Journal
Information Polity – IOS Press
Published: Nov 25, 2015