Lesson video

Hello, my name's Mrs. Hastings.

Welcome to today's lesson.

Today's lesson comes from the unit Can Digital Democracy Increase Political Participation? And the title for today's lesson is What Is Digital Citizenship? So I'm really hoping that you enjoy the lesson and that you learn a lot about digital democracy and digital citizenship and how that might help us to increase political participation and get you participating in politics more and in the future.

So by the end of today's lesson, you should be able to explain what digital citizenship and digital democracy mean.

Let's have a look at today's keywords.

So first of all, citizen, or citizenship, a person who belongs to a country and has certain rights as they either live in the country or were born in the country.

It is also a legal status given to people.

Democracy, a system of government in which citizens vote in regular, fair elections for representatives who then make laws and decisions on their behalf.

And social media, websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or participate in social networking.

So by the end of today's lesson, we will have gone through three learning cycles.

First learning cycles is what is a digital citizen? Second one, what is digital democracy? And lastly, how are digital technologies changing democracy? So let's get started with our first learning cycle, what is a digital citizen? A digital citizen is someone who uses technology safely, ethically, and responsibly.

They protect both their own and others' rights and information in a digital world.

What digital interactions have you had in the past week? For example, have you sent a message using a smartphone? I'd like you to have a conversation with your learning partner about all the digital interactions you might have had in the last week.

So online interactions could include messaging, sending texts or direct messages on apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, or Snapchat, emails, writing and receiving emails for school or for personal use, video calls, using apps like FaceTime to see and talk to people, social media posts, sharing photos, sharing videos, or thoughts on platforms like TikTok, or Instagram, or maybe X, and then commenting, writing comments online, videos, posts, or photos.

They might also include gaming chats.

That's talking to other players while playing online games.

Liking and sharing, so clicking like or sharing posts or videos with others.

Online forums, joining discussions or asking questions on websites.

Streaming chats, interacting in chat boxes during live streams. School platforms, communicating with teachers and classmates, for example, through Google Classroom.

So digital citizens have rights and responsibilities just like people do in everyday life.

So your online activities and your online interactions require responsibility and you also have rights to protect you.

So what do we mean by rights and responsibilities? Have a discussion with your learning partner about that question.

What do we mean by rights and responsibilities? So a right is something to which we are entitled.

For example, the right to an education.

You are entitled to a right to an education.

It is written in law.

It's protected by law.

It's also protected internationally through things like the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.

Whereas responsibilities are things that you're expected to do as part of a community.

They mean being accountable for your actions, including those online actions, because when you're online, you're part of an online community and therefore you have certain responsibilities.

You also have certain rights as being part of that online community as well.

So your rights and responsibilities as a digital citizen help you take part in democratic activities.

This includes sharing opinions, accessing information, and joining online discussions.

They also help you stay safe online and protect others you interact with.

What do you think are your rights and responsibilities as a digital citizen? What rights do you have? What responsibilities do you have in those online communities? Again, have a discussion with your learning partner about that question.

Rights as a digital citizen include right to privacy, the right to keep your personal information private and protected.

So that would be things like your personal information, like your date of birth, or any bank accounts, et cetera.

Right to freedom of expression.

You have the right to share your ideas and opinions, but it's really important that those opinions and ideas, they don't harm other people or cause harm to others.

You have a right to feel safe online.

You have the right to be safe from bullying, from threats, or any kind of abuse online.

You have the right to access information.

You have the right to use the internet to learn and find out new things.

And you have the right to digital education.

So you have the right to learn how to use technology in a smart and safe way.

And that's really important when we are being online citizens is to know how to use it smartly and safely.

So your responsibilities as a digital citizen could include being respectful, so treat others kindly online just like you would in person.

Protect your privacy.

Keep your password safe and do not share personal details, like your address or phone number, especially with people you don't know.

And if you've had spam emails or what we call phishing emails, it's really important that you know who you're sharing the information with.

Think before you post.

Once something is online, it can be hard to delete.

Report harmful behaviour.

If you see something that concerns you, report it to a trusted adult and the social media platform that it's come from.

And follow the rules and laws.

Obey age limits.

So, for example, to have a WhatsApp account, you need to be 13 years old.

For other social media accounts, the age limit might be different, so do check.

Follow the copyright rules and follow school or website guidelines.

So let's check our understanding of what we've learnt about rights as a digital citizen.

So which of the following are rights you have as a digital citizen? Privacy, be respectful, digital education, feel safe online, report harmful behaviour, follow rules and laws.

So which of those are rights you have as a digital citizen? So the rights are the right to privacy, the right to a digital education, the right to feel safe online.

And the rest of them are responsibilities.

So well done if you noticed that the others were responsibilities.

And well done if you correctly highlighted the rights that you have as a digital citizen.

As well as having rights and responsibilities for our personal actions online, we can also be active digital citizens.

An active citizen is someone who takes the responsibility, gets involved in public matters, and works to make a positive difference in their community.

As digital citizens, we can do the same but online.

So here are some examples of how we can be active citizens.

Andeep, "I signed an online petition to support action on climate change." So signing online petitions is active citizenship.

And Sam, "I joined an online movement to raise awareness about digital rights and laws to protect these." So again, Sam was actively getting involved online and being an active citizen.

So which of the following is an example of being an active digital citizen? A, complimenting a friend on social media, b, signing a petition against a park closure, or c, liking a friend's posts on social media? The answer is b, signing a petition against a park closure.

So active digital citizenship is about more than being kind or polite online.

It's about getting involved in causes, taking responsibility for issues that matter, and making a positive difference, as Andeep points out here.

So well done if you got that right.

Let's get on with our first practise task of today's lesson then.

So in each scenario, think about what rights and responsibilities are involved.

Then consider whether the action is about being personally responsible online or about being an active digital citizen.

So number one, you notice someone bullying a friend in a group chat.

You report it to a teacher and encourage your friend to talk to a trusted adult.

Number two, you come across an article about how online petitions can influence government decisions.

You decide to share it with your classmates to encourage them to get involved in democratic processes online.

So I'd like you to pause the video whilst you complete this task.

Well done for completing that task.

So I asked you to think about the two scenarios and have a think about the rights and responsibilities.

Scenario one, you notice someone bullying a friend in a group chat.

You report it to a teacher and encourage your friend to talk to a trusted adult.

So the rights and responsibilities here are the right to feel safe online and the responsibility to report harmful behaviour.

And whether it's personally responsible or active citizen, this is about being personally responsible online.

You are doing the right thing by reporting bullying and protecting your friend, which helps keep the online space safe.

And then for the second scenario, so Scenario 2, you come across an article about how online petitions can influence government decisions.

You decide to share it with your classmates, encourage them to get involved in democratic processes online.

So rights and responsibilities here are the right to access information and the responsibility to share knowledge that can influence public decisions.

And this is personal responsibility or active citizenship? This is an example of being an active digital citizen.

Sharing an article about online petitions helps others learn how they can take part in democratic processes and influencing government decisions.

Well done.

So let's move on to the second learning cycle in today's lesson, what is digital democracy? The use of digital and online methods support some of the key functions of democracy.

Can you remember what are the key functions of democracy? Have a conversation with your learning partner.

What are the key functions of democracy? What do we expect democracy to do or to be like? So some of the key functions of democracy are that people choose their leaders.

We get to vote, we get to have a choice.

Everyone has equal rights, and often that is protected in laws.

And these laws also protect our freedoms. Leaders must listen to people.

They are held to account and they are scrutinised.

Free speech is allowed.

Fair elections are held through a secret ballot, and they're held regularly.

And government power is limited.

So through being able to vote, their power is limited.

So fill in the missing words for each function of democracy listed to check our understanding of that.

People choose their what? Everyone has equal what? Leaders must what to people? And fair what are held? Okay, so people choose their leaders.

Everyone has equal rights.

Leaders must listen to people.

And fair elections are held.

So well done if you correctly filled in the missing words.

How might digital media support some of the key functions of democracy? So examples of digital media include online information about elections.

You can visit official websites to learn when elections are happening, who is running for office in your constituency and as leader of each political party, and what each party or candidate stands for.

Digital campaigns.

So political parties and candidates use social media and websites to share their messages, promises, and videos to reach more people online.

Citizen consultations by government.

The government sometimes asks people to give their opinions on new laws or local projects by filling in online surveys or forms. So, for example, they are going through a curriculum review at the moment to look at education in England and Wales, and they have asked for opinions about what that curriculum should look like or what the challenges with the current curriculum.

And people were able to fill in forms and also take part in online forums, which I actually got to take part in, which was quite exciting.

Citizen participation in parliamentary debates and committees.

People can watch live videos of debates or send written ideas to committees when the government is making decisions on important topics.

So again, similar to that example that I talked about, the consultation, that's quite a similar idea as well.

And then electronic voting by MPs or the electorate.

In some countries, citizens can vote online through electronic voting in elections, although not in the UK.

This happens in places like Estonia.

So let's check our understanding of what we've learned so far in this learning cycle, what is digital democracy? Identify whether each statement is true or false.

Indicate your answers with a tick for true or cross for false.

A, you can learn about elections on official websites, b, the government sometimes uses online forums to gather citizens' opinions, c, you can vote online in general elections in the UK, and d, political parties use social media to reach more people.

So a is correct, it's true.

B is also true.

C is false.

You can't yet vote online in general elections in the UK.

And d is also true.

So well done if you correctly identified the true and the false in there.

So how can technology help citizens stay informed about political decisions? I'd like you to explain your answer in this task in one paragraph.

So how can technology help citizens stay informed about political decisions? Pause the video whilst you complete this practise task.

So well done for completing that task.

I asked you to explain in one paragraph how can technology help citizens stay informed about political decisions.

You may have said, technology helps citizens to stay informed about political decisions by making it easier to get information about elections and political parties online.

People can watch debates, give their opinions in online surveys, and even vote electronically in some countries, however, not in the UK, which makes participating more convenient and accessible.

So the third learning cycle now.

Well done for getting this far.

Got one more learning cycle to go.

How are digital technologies changing democracy? Digital technology is helping to support key parts of how democracy works.

For example, social media makes it easier to share opinions and take part in discussions.

People can follow politicians and news updates through apps and platforms. People can sign online petitions or get involved in digital campaigns.

The government can collect public views more easily.

It is easier to watch live debates and political speeches online.

In some countries, people can vote online in elections.

And public events can take place both online and in person.

This is called hybrid.

So you might have a group of people who are there in person, but also, it is broadcast online so that people who can't make it in person can also have the opportunity to take part.

So let's check our understanding.

How can digital technologies help increase political participation? A, by making voting compulsory for everyone, b, it allows people to follow politicians on social media, c, by restricting access to political news and debates, or d, by preventing people from sharing their opinions online.

The answer is b, it allows people to follow politicians on social media.

Well done if you correctly identified that b was the right answer.

The UK electorate cannot vote online or electronically in elections.

But between 2002 and 2007, some areas like Sheffield and Stratford-upon-Avon trialled e-voting using touchscreens.

So you still had to go to the ballot box, to the polling station, I should say.

And there, instead of putting a cross on a paper version, you could put your cross on a touch screen version.

But these were stopped due to security risks and technical issues.

There are different ways that the electorate can vote.

So you can vote by going in person at your local polling station and picking up your ballot paper, a piece of paper, and putting a cross in a box, and putting it into a sealed box.

Apply for a postal vote to vote from home.

So that means that you get your ballot paper through the post and then you return it by post.

And the use of proxy voting, where somebody who is wanting to vote trusts votes on their behalf.

And this can be really good for British citizens who live abroad, or are abroad and can't actually get to the ballot box in person.

So again, for example, my sister lives in Italy, and she's a British citizen, so she can't get here to vote always in the elections, so she asked somebody she trusts to vote on her behalf.

The UK government has looked into online voting, but concerns about privacy, fraud, and security have slowed progress in this.

Estonia has been using online voting for more than 10 years.

I mentioned earlier that they use e-voting.

In 2015, more than 30% of voters cast their votes through e-voting.

During the lead up to elections, voters log on to a system using an ID card or mobile ID and cast a ballot.

And this means that they can do it any point from the ballot's opening to it closing.

And actually, they're able to go on, and if they've changed their minds, they can change their vote, right up until the closing of the ballot.

The voter's identity is removed from the ballot before it reaches the National Electoral Commission for counting, thereby ensuring anonymity.

So it's still secret.

What are the potential problems of online voting? Can you think of any problems that there might be with online voting? So one big concern is security risks.

Hackers could tamper with the votes.

Hackers could get in and change the votes to ensure that the candidates and the parties that they want to win win the election.

There are concerns about privacy.

Voter information might be exposed or tracked, again, by hackers.

There is a digital divide.

So not everyone has internet access or the digital skills to use e-voting.

So it might be that some people aren't able to use it.

Technical failures.

There could be system glitches or internet issues, which could stop people from voting.

And voter fraud.

It's harder to prevent multiple votes or impersonation when voting online.

So you'd have to really think about how you know exactly who it is that is voting.

But what are the potential benefits of online voting? Have a think about that question.

So there are lots of benefits, really.

Convenience.

So voters can cast their ballot from anywhere.

They can pick up their phone.

They can do it on on the phone, on their commute or from home.

They can log onto a computer from home or in a library.

If it has internet access, they can do it there.

So that's really, really easy and convenient.

Accessibility.

People with additional needs or disabilities or those living abroad can vote more easily.

They don't have to physically get to a ballot box.

Increased turnout.

By making it easier for people to vote, that could actually potentially increase voter participation.

Faster results.

Electronic systems can speed up vote counting enormously.

You don't have to have in-person counting, where at the moment, in the UK, you have people at the election, once the ballot box is closed, all the ballot boxes get taken to a counting station, and they are physically counted by hand by people.

It's cost-effective.

Online voting can reduce costs.

You don't have to hire the places to have the ballots.

You don't have to hire people to be manning those stations.

So let's check our understanding of this.

True or false.

Online voting could face security risks, privacy concerns, a digital divide, technical failures, and voter fraud.

Is that true or false? It is true because there are several potential challenges and risks associated with online voting, and those are some of them.

So onto our final task for today's lesson.

Digital technologies are changing democracy and increasing political participation by making it easier for people to get involved.

I'd like you to write an argument either in support of or challenging this statement.

If you support the statement, explain how digital technologies make it easier for people to participate in democracy, for example, voting, campaigning, accessing information.

If you challenge the statement, explain how digital technologies might not increase political participation, for example, the digital divide, security concerns, and misinformation.

So pause the video whilst you complete this task.

Well done for completing that task.

So I asked you to think about the statement, digital technologies are changing democracy and increasing political participation by making it easier for people to get involved, and to write a paragraph either in support or challenging that statement.

So in support of this statement, you may have said digital technologies are significantly helping people become more involved in democracy.

For example, social media makes it easier to hear directly from politicians and political parties, which encourages people to share their opinions and get involved in political discussions.

People can also watch debates and speeches online, which helps 'em stay informed about what is happening and ensures greater access to political spaces.

Furthermore, online petitions and campaigns make it easier for people to support causes they care about and have their voices heard.

To challenge this statement, you may have said, while digital technologies may increase political participation for some, they also create barriers.

Not everyone has access to the internet or the skills to use digital platforms, which can leave some people excluded from the conversation, which is not fair or democratic.

Additionally, online platforms can be prone to security risks, misinformation, and voter fraud.

This could undermine trust in political systems and reduce voter participation overall.

Similarly, there could be technology failures, further reducing people's faith in political participation.

So well done for completing that final task and well done for completing today's lesson.

To summarise, a digital citizen is someone who uses technology safely, responsibly, and respectfully.

We all have rights, like freedom of expression, and responsibilities, like following rules online.

Being an active digital citizen means going beyond personal behaviour.

It's about getting involved in public issues and making a positive difference in your community.

Digital democracy refers to the use of digital and online methods to support some of the key functions of democracy, such as voting and participation.

Technology is changing democracy by making participation more accessible and enabling faster communication and activism.

However, there are concerns over misinformation, privacy concerns, and unequal access, which can affect the quality and fairness of democratic engagement.

As I've said, well done for completing today's lesson, and I look forward to seeing you again soon.