1. Divided 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)

3. 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

4. Generational Citizen Identity Differences Youth: 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

5. 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

6. Research Findings: Generational Declines in Traditional Participation

7. Electoral Activity Low DotNets born 1977-1987 Source: PEW U.S. Civic Health Survey

8. Source: Young People & News - Carnegie Report - July 2007

9. Importance of Public Affairs US - young citizens vs adults

10. Research Findings: Rise in Direct Personal Action

11. Personal Direct Action High

12. Participation vs. Disengagement US youth vs adults

13. Non Electoral Political Activities US youth vs. adults

14. 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….

15. Persistent Belief that Schools are Central Institutions for Civic Engagement because… That’s Where the Kids Are!!! because… That’s Where the Kids Are!!!

16. 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

17. Most civic education designed by older DC citizens - offering little for ACs

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. Source: Craig Peden, Microsoft Educational Solutions Group

22. ~ 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

23. 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?

24. Dilemma: This Cheese Gets More Attention (1.5 million visitors) than most Civic Engagement sites

25. Most Popular Online Engagement Community: 130,000

26. 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

27. Center for Communication & Civic Engagement Lance Bennett, Director www.engagedcitizen.org Information ~ Technology ~ Community @