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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Research Findings: Rise in Direct Personal Action

Research Findings: Rise in Direct Personal Action

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

Source: Craig Peden, Microsoft Educational Solutions Group

~ 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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