divided youth in the digital age: two paradigms of citizen identity ~ lance bennett center for...
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Divided Youth in the Digital Age: Two Paradigms of Citizen IdentityDivided Youth in the Digital Age: Two Paradigms of Citizen Identity
~Lance Bennett
Center for Communication and Civic Engagement
University of Washington, Seattle, USA
www.engagedcitizen.org
~Young People, New Technologies and Political Engagement
Surrey July 24-25 2007 (cc: please request permission for use)
~Lance Bennett
Center for Communication and Civic Engagement
University of Washington, Seattle, USA
www.engagedcitizen.org
~Young People, New Technologies and Political Engagement
Surrey July 24-25 2007 (cc: please request permission for use)
Major (globalization-related) changes in Social Identity
Major (globalization-related) changes in Social Identity
Risk society (Beck) = increased personal responsibility ~ choice ~ life management
+ Changing social structure: groups => networks
Personal lifestyles organize social identity Changing politics:
Government (seems) less relevant to individual needs Rise of personal -- expressive/self-actualizing --
politics -- (direct action -- consumer/ lifestyle issues) Persistence of older expectations about citizen duty
Result: generation gap in citizenship styles
Risk society (Beck) = increased personal responsibility ~ choice ~ life management
+ Changing social structure: groups => networks
Personal lifestyles organize social identity Changing politics:
Government (seems) less relevant to individual needs Rise of personal -- expressive/self-actualizing --
politics -- (direct action -- consumer/ lifestyle issues) Persistence of older expectations about citizen duty
Result: generation gap in citizenship styles
Generational Citizen Identity DifferencesYouth: Actualizing Citizen (AC) Older: Dutiful Citizen (DC)
Weak duty to participate in government
Strong duty to participate in government
Focus on lifestyle politics: political consumerism, volunteering, social activism
Voting is the core democratic act
Mistrust of media and politicians -- do not follow politics in the news
Informed about issues and government -- follow the news
Join loose networks for social action – communicate through digital media
Join social organizations and parties -- communicate through mass media
Research and Education Policy:Conflicting Conclusions
Research and Education Policy:Conflicting Conclusions
Are young citizens disengaged? -- yes, if focus is voting & knowledge about politics & government
(emphasis on DC citizen identity)
Or are they Engaged ? -- yes, if focus is community work, consumer politics -- online communities
(emphasis on AC citizen identity)
Result -- conflicting & poorly developed approaches to civic education and engagement
Are young citizens disengaged? -- yes, if focus is voting & knowledge about politics & government
(emphasis on DC citizen identity)
Or are they Engaged ? -- yes, if focus is community work, consumer politics -- online communities
(emphasis on AC citizen identity)
Result -- conflicting & poorly developed approaches to civic education and engagement
Research Findings: Generational Declines in Traditional ParticipationResearch Findings: Generational
Declines in Traditional Participation
Electoral Activity LowElectoral Activity Low
6%
13%
26%
33%
50%
3%
4%
20%
36%
32%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Volunteered for a candidate or politicalorganization
Contributed money to candidate, party,or group
Displays campaign button, sticker, sign
Tries to persuade others how to vote
Always vote (or intend to always vote)
All DotNet
6%
13%
26%
33%
50%
3%
4%
20%
36%
32%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Volunteered for a candidate or politicalorganization
Contributed money to candidate, party,or group
Displays campaign button, sticker, sign
Tries to persuade others how to vote
Always vote (or intend to always vote)
All DotNet
DotNets born 1977-1987Source: PEW U.S. Civic Health Survey
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Source: Young People & News - Carnegie Report - July 2007
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Personal Direct Action HighPersonal Direct Action High
3%
4%
8%
10%
12%
18%
23%
35%
38%
2%
7%
7%
10%
14%
10%
20%
35%
38%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40%
Canvassed
Protested
Contacted talk show
Contacted media
Electronic petition
Contacted an official
Written petition
Buycotted
Boycotted
All DotNet
Schools and Political Engagement:
What are the challenges?
Schools and Political Engagement:
What are the challenges? What schools do best
teaching textbook knowledge about government -- most effective for DCs
Engaging AC identity and digital lifestyles present challenges for schools….
What schools do best teaching textbook knowledge about
government -- most effective for DCs Engaging AC identity and digital
lifestyles present challenges for schools….
Persistent Belief that Schools are Central Institutions for
Civic Engagement
Persistent Belief that Schools are Central Institutions for
Civic Engagement
because…
That’s Where the Kids Are!!!because…
That’s Where the Kids Are!!!
Yet Most Schools May Produce Dutiful Citizens (or none at all!) Yet Most Schools May Produce Dutiful Citizens (or none at all!)
Textbook Knowledge about government Limited classroom democracy Schools are politically contested
limited contact with community politics (although service learning is increasing)
active suppression of politics inside the classroom Digital media environments limited
Technology access Web access is often censored --limited to approved
sites
Textbook Knowledge about government Limited classroom democracy Schools are politically contested
limited contact with community politics (although service learning is increasing)
active suppression of politics inside the classroom Digital media environments limited
Technology access Web access is often censored --limited to approved
sites
Most civic education designed by older DC citizens - offering little for ACs
Most civic education designed by older DC citizens - offering little for ACs
The Policy Challenge: Bridging the AC/DC Divide
The Policy Challenge: Bridging the AC/DC Divide
Civic Education Programs that Appeal to AC citizens -- through
active/personal contact with real problems and issues…..
Help find personal paths to AC&DC participation while:
avoiding textbook-only approaches avoiding defining citizenship mainly as duty offering personal paths to government using familiar social networking media
Civic Education Programs that Appeal to AC citizens -- through
active/personal contact with real problems and issues…..
Help find personal paths to AC&DC participation while:
avoiding textbook-only approaches avoiding defining citizenship mainly as duty offering personal paths to government using familiar social networking media
Combining AC/DC: Civics in Australia
•Knowledge of Australian political institutions and structures
•Values concerning democracy, the rule of law, social justice, equity and fairness •Commitment to including all Australians in the political process
…………………… •An obligation to see citizenship in an international perspective •Understanding the everyday lived experiences of young people and their apparent alienation •Recognising schools and classrooms as democratic institutions
•Accepting that citizens are constructed by multiple identifies rather than a single identity. -- Australian Council for Education Research
Implications: How to Motivate Gen Next?
Implications: How to Motivate Gen Next?
I. Recognize citizen identity shifts less collective responsibility/civic duty strong interest in making a difference in society
II. Use new learning & comm. preferences make learning: interactive, experiential, group use digital media to personalize information use online tools to link political info & action
III. Link classroom to government & society Use media to engage students in public spheres
I. Recognize citizen identity shifts less collective responsibility/civic duty strong interest in making a difference in society
II. Use new learning & comm. preferences make learning: interactive, experiential, group use digital media to personalize information use online tools to link political info & action
III. Link classroom to government & society Use media to engage students in public spheres
~ Use Interactive Technologies to Bring Democracy into the
Classroom~
~ Use Interactive Technologies to Bring Democracy into the
Classroom~ Use interactive technologies to help
young citizens: Learn public communication skills Communicate with each other Build a political agenda Organize and act effectively Communicate with government
Use interactive technologies to help
young citizens: Learn public communication skills Communicate with each other Build a political agenda Organize and act effectively Communicate with government
Easier said than done:Dilemmas Facing Youth Political
Communities --in or out of schools:
Easier said than done:Dilemmas Facing Youth Political
Communities --in or out of schools:
May not be perceived as authentic -- too managed -- too little autonomy (Coleman) Schools / other sponsors of youth digital networks
take responsibility for their sites -- -- end up censoring managing content/access
Creating an audience problem (Levine): They may attract few young people The “long tail” may work for commerce online, but
does it work for democracy?
May not be perceived as authentic -- too managed -- too little autonomy (Coleman) Schools / other sponsors of youth digital networks
take responsibility for their sites -- -- end up censoring managing content/access
Creating an audience problem (Levine): They may attract few young people The “long tail” may work for commerce online, but
does it work for democracy?
Dilemma: This Cheese Gets More Attention (1.5 million visitors) than most Civic Engagement sitesDilemma: This Cheese Gets More Attention (1.5
million visitors) than most Civic Engagement sites
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Most Popular Online Engagement
Community: 130,000 Most Popular Online Engagement
Community: 130,000
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Create Communication Environments that bridge
schools & real world
Create Communication Environments that bridge
schools & real world Teach digital media literacy in schools - to develop
PUBLIC VOICE Introduce tools/public voice skills into places where
young people gather online (MySpace) Build community digital media systems -- public
spaces -- outside of schools Build curriculum to help students discover those
community sites Link both schools and personal life to those spaces via
networking IT Make it fun -- produce & share content
Teach digital media literacy in schools - to develop PUBLIC VOICE
Introduce tools/public voice skills into places where young people gather online (MySpace)
Build community digital media systems -- public spaces -- outside of schools
Build curriculum to help students discover those community sites
Link both schools and personal life to those spaces via networking IT
Make it fun -- produce & share content
Center for Communication & Center for Communication & Civic EngagementCivic Engagement
Lance Bennett, DirectorLance Bennett, Director
www.engagedcitizen.org www.engagedcitizen.org
Information ~ Technology ~ Community
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