IGF 2019 WS #326 Preparing Youth as Responsible Future Digital Citizens

Information

Session

Thematic Track:

Topic(s):

Inclusive Governance
Outreach
Social Inclusion

Organizer 1: Aisyah Shakirah Suhaidi, Internet Society Malaysia Chapter
Organizer 2: Jenna Man Hau Fung, DotAsia/ NetMission.Asia
Organizer 3: Elliott Mann, Swinburne Law School

Speaker 1: Aisyah Shakirah Suhaidi, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 2: Lucena Claudio, Technical Community, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 3: Sandra Hoferichter, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 4: Priyatosh Jana, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 5: Nomsa Mlambo, Civil Society, African Group

Format:

Panel - Auditorium - 60 Min

Description: 1. Introduction: 5 min
2. Panel Discussion: 40 min
3. Open Floor Discussion/Question and Answer: 10 min
4. Action & Output/Conclusion: 5 min

The speakers are expected to highlight the topic in a 60 minutes panel discussion by providing knowledge and examples based on their experiences. The session will be followed by further inviting the participation from the open floor to exchange ideas, insights and experiences on Digital Citizenship.

Introduction: 5 mins
The moderator will start the session with the introduction of the general concept of Digital Citizenship.

Panel Discussion: 40 mins
The moderator will then invite the speakers to further discuss Digital Citizenship, highlight some of the main issues surrounding this topic, and introduce various alternatives to create policies in an era of Digital Citizenship. To facilitate a robust discussion, speakers from different stakeholder groups, geographical region and gender will be engaged to share their points of view from different perspectives. There will be two rounds and each speaker will speak for five minutes each round.

Open floor Discussion/Question and Answer: 10 mins
The floor will be opened for comments, questions and suggestions for further actions of different communities and stakeholder group. An open-floor discussion will encourage and empower attendees to advocate their opinions and points of view of the communities they are representing. This session is expected to be dynamic and interactive, which the moderator(s) will line up the audience and speakers for questions, responses or comments upon requests.

Action & Output: 5 mins
The moderator will wrap up the discussion and conclude the session towards the identification and development of specific and actionable next steps that could be implemented to promote positive digital citizenship and cyber wellness among young Internet users

Expected Outcomes: This workshop expects to provide guidance in the development of policies and strategies customized to the development of millennials as digital socially responsible global citizens for a positive cyber environment. It will provide participants with an overview of the issues surrounding the lack of competence in digital responsibility and the passive attitude towards social responsibility. With the existence of online social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and Youtube, the session also seeks to develop a new cyberspace literacy that embraces Web 2.0. Web 2.0 refers to the second generation of the world wide web which is characterized by more dynamic and interactive collaborative and shared web experiences. It is hoped that participants will conclude the workshop more knowledgeable on the importance of preparing youth to become responsible digital citizens about the different initiatives active in the world with the potential for cross-pollination and networking with other participants. This session also seeks to contribute to the introduction of policies that are able to encourage and create responsible digital citizens who understand the rights and responsibilities that come with being online, use technology in a positive manner and engage in making practical, safe, responsible, ethical, and legal use of technology.

Policy Question(s):

What aspects of youth engagement are necessary to understand the importance of Digital Citizenship?
What are the exercises that can be developed to provide opportunities for problem-solving to promote responsible Digital Citizenship at a global level?
What are best practices of social media governance that will promote positive participation of youth as responsible digital citizens?
How can we promote Digital Citizenship through educational facilities to encourage cyber wellness to different communities?
What cybersecurity policies can be developed to promote Cyber Wellness and Digital Citizenship for youth (including young girls, people with disabilities, and other disadvantaged groups?)

Relevance to Theme: This workshop is relevant to the theme of Digital Inclusion as it articulates the approach of engaging youth from different communities and social backgrounds in the Internet governance ecosystem, particularly in the creation and sustenance of a positive environment that would prepare the youth and millennials as responsible digital citizens. This workshop will include the discussion on important aspects of youth cyber wellness in the current digital age and the empowerment of youth through healthy mental well-being, and ethical social values, and most importantly how the issue is reflected in the cybersecurity policy and agenda.

Amongst the highlights of discussion are the positive digital presence characteristics and psycho-social health as well as the physical hazards of the youth’s unmanaged access to Internet. The importance of mitigating effects at the individual level, is beyond mere awareness campaigns, but more significantly through the craft of weaving digital citizenship elements into educational activities. The speakers will elaborate on how the positive youth empowerment and influence of social media have impacted youth everyday life. The importance of mitigating arising issues will be stressed through exercising digital citizenship skills during the various activity topics.

Relevance to Internet Governance: This workshop is relevant to Internet governance because it highlights the enormous potential of the youth in exchanging and disseminating knowledge in the information society and as the primary users and therefore drivers of the internet.

The phrase “cyberspace literacy” is used in information technology to refer to instances in which Internet user behave and participate in a manner that is independent, cultured and critical. Currently, new technologies generate various social, governance and technical challenges for society. We believe that the empowerment of youth through healthy mental well-being, and ethical social values is critical in addressing these challenges as youth are encouraged and inspired to become responsible digital citizens, Academics, and Policy makers. Therefore, the workshop recognizes the importance of digital and social skills development in order to ensure cyber literacy through cyber well-being and job stability of the youth in the new digital age.

Moderator:

Aisyah Shakirah Suhaidi, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group

Online Moderator:

Jenna Man Hau Fung, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group

Rapporteur:

Elliott Mann, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

Discussion Facilitation:

To encourage interaction and participation during the session, the moderator will open the floor for 10 minutes for comments, questions and suggestions. This will encourage and empower attendees to advocate their opinions and points of view of the communities they are representing. We will also live tweet the whole session to ensure that the conversation does not just stay inside the room, or just at the IGF. This will also include provisions to take questions from the online participants via social media as well as from those participating remotely on the IGF platform. This session is expected to be dynamic and interactive, which the moderator will line up the audience and speakers for questions, responses or comments upon requests.

Online Participation:

Usage of IGF Tool

Proposed Additional Tools: We are planning to live tweet the session and create a hashtag for this purpose to attract youth to participate

SDGs:

GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-Being
GOAL 4: Quality Education
GOAL 5: Gender Equality
GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
GOAL 10: Reduced Inequalities
GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
GOAL 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
GOAL 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Reference Document