A systematic review of digital citizenship empirical studies for practitioners

The pervasive use of the Internet and technology has its impact on citizens' civic participation. There are growing numbers of research which explore digital citizenship (DC) for citizens' better civic participation in the information society. With the growing attention of digital citizenship, a systematic review of empirical research focused on digital citizenship in the past decade (2010-2020) was conducted to serve the need of different stakeholders. Synthesis was based on research purposes, methods, population, geographic distribution, instruments and factors that affect digital citizenship. Results showed that the research of the DC empirical studies varied. The themes of DC practice, education and factors attracted attention. A few reliable and valid instruments have been developed to measure digital citizenship targeted for different populations. Demographic factors, Internet use factors, psychological factors and social factors of an individual predict one's digital citizenship. These factors may serve as indicators for policy makers to draft DC policy and educators to plan for the DC program in the society. Suggestions are provided for practitioners based on the findings.

Automated summary

The use of the Internet and technology has had a significant impact on citizen's civic participation. Digital citizenship has become an important area of research in order to improve citizen's engagement in the information society. This systematic review of empirical research conducted in the past decade examined various aspects of digital citizenship, including practices, education, and influencing factors. The research found that demographic factors, internet use factors, psychological factors, and social factors all play a role in predicting an individual's digital citizenship. The findings can provide useful insights for policymakers and educators in developing policies and programs related to digital citizenship.