Week Three

The readings for this week, for me, focused my attention on concern for the future endeavors in democracy and civic responsibilities of the younger generation.  The underlying question being: Does increase access to technology and digital access increase youth participation in their own citizenship?"

On one side of the discussion, it may be argued that: "the cascading advance of media platforms and social software enables unprecedented levels of production and distribution of ideas, public deliberation, and network organization" (Bennett, 2008, p.1).  We, as a society, are more connected than ever before.  We no longer have to wait for the morning paper or evening newscast to get news about what is going on in our world locally, regionally, nationally and globally. Information is readily at our fingertips-- offering us the opportunity to form opinions, take action, actively participate in our own civic future, and do what what no generation has done before us: change the world.  How exciting!  But, it this the case with the engagement of today's youth?

It would seem that, in spite of the potential that digital media provides for the revitalization of politics and civic action for so-called "next generation citizens"-- there exists a dissatisfaction with, ( and lack of trust for) political interest groups and an apathy in social movement activities.  Online activity among youth tends to be largely in the areas of social media and entertainment. Gaming activities, digital music production, video production, and Facebook/twitter/Instagram etc. make up the majority of the communicative action taking place online.  Political and social action endeavors are marginal or inauthentic, at best. Additionally, "the majority of those communicating with young people about conventional politics continue to do so in tired top-down, highly managed ways that most young people find inauthentic and largely irrelevant" (Bennett,2008, p.10).

Sassen contends that this is due ,in part, to the social logics of the users ( of technology). Despite "technically given openness and technically given  choice", (Sassen, 2012) there is not the increase that you would expect in terms of democracy. She indicates that, in order to effect change, there must be a "creative destruction of existing arrangements" (Sassen, 2012).  This extends, in my opinion, to the political arena, as well.  The youth of today are presented with negative, inauthentic, and irrelevant issues, and it is resulting in their non-participation and disconnection from their own civic futures.  Those politicians, civil society organizations, and socially concerned individuals need to find meaningful ways to meet youthful users of technology where they are at, and reinvent their approach. In as much as we, the public, have unprecedented opportunities to connect with the world around us, digitally-- so then,  do those who would promote active citizenship and action on the part of our youth.

 I think it is important to reiterate that -- as educators- we need to prioritize ways of providing tools to our students to navigate and organize what is presented to them.  This includes the development of critical thinking skills. This will arm them with the skillset needed to make determinations as to what information is authentic and relevant, and what is not. This will put our youth on a clearer pathway to civic engagement and action.          

  

Bennett, W.L., (2008). Changing Citizenship in the Digital Age, Cambridge, MA: MIT Press

Sassen, S., (2012,july26). Networks,Power & Democracy, [video file] Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hpw1GpHzAbc&feature=youtu.be