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New and social media for strengthening the public support among young people for development cooperation: instant karma?
Boekbijdrage - Hoofdstuk
Compared with previous generations, young people seem to be less involved in civic engagement activities. Civic engagement has been declining since the Second World War and the current emphasis on the private sphere and individualism seem to strengthen this process (Galston, 2001; Putnam, 2000). At the same time researchers are witnessing the emergence of a new kind of public sphere: the online realm. The online public sphere, and web 2.0 applications in particular, allow users to participate in critical debates and to create, consume, publish, and share content. Given the fact that many young people are active users of these interactive web 2.0 applications (see for instance Digimeter Report 5 from De Moor, Schuurman & De Marez, 2012), the online public sphere may offer opportunities for new types of civic engagement among youth (Keeter & Taylor, 2009; Le Borgne- Bachschmidt, Girieud, Leiba, de Munck, Limonard, Poel, Kool, Helberger, Guibault, Janssen, van Eijk, Angelopoulos, van Hoboken & Swart, 2008; Prensky, 2001).
Studies on the effect of using interactive internet-based tools on civic engagement in general are abundant (see for instance Shah, Cho, Eveland & Kwak, 2005; Wellman, Haase, Witte & Hampton, 2001). By contrast, research on the use of these tools for perpetuating or strengthening the public support for development cooperation is relatively scarce. Yet, the literature on new and social media does provide a number of insights into how aid organisations can use interactive digital strategies for engaging youth in issues related to development cooperation.
This chapter first discusses the insights gained from the literature review. It then focuses on the questions that remained unanswered and on the empirical study that was undertaken to answer these questions. After discussing the results from the empirical research, a number of recommendations on how aid organisations can make better use of new and social media are articulated. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the results in view of current and future internet trends.
Studies on the effect of using interactive internet-based tools on civic engagement in general are abundant (see for instance Shah, Cho, Eveland & Kwak, 2005; Wellman, Haase, Witte & Hampton, 2001). By contrast, research on the use of these tools for perpetuating or strengthening the public support for development cooperation is relatively scarce. Yet, the literature on new and social media does provide a number of insights into how aid organisations can use interactive digital strategies for engaging youth in issues related to development cooperation.
This chapter first discusses the insights gained from the literature review. It then focuses on the questions that remained unanswered and on the empirical study that was undertaken to answer these questions. After discussing the results from the empirical research, a number of recommendations on how aid organisations can make better use of new and social media are articulated. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the results in view of current and future internet trends.
Boek: I. Pollet & J. Van Ongevalle (Eds.), The drive to global citizenship: Motivating people, mapping public support, measuring effects of global education. Antwerpen: Garant.
Pagina's: 181-205
Aantal pagina's: 25
ISBN:978-90-441-3126-0
Jaar van publicatie:2013
Trefwoorden:development aid, public support, new media, social media