DIGITAL CITIZEN PARTICIPATION OF COLLEGE STUDENTS: REALITY AND OPTIMIZATION PATH

Digital citizenship participation refers to the utilization of digital technology by individuals or groups for the purpose of engaging in networked participatory behaviors. It involves four interconnected elements: individual, policy, political, and social participation. This study surveyed 446 college students from a private university in China and conducted interviews to explore their digital citizenship participation. It is found that college students' digital citizen participation is characterized by "strong individual interest-driven participation", "weak political concern", and "good digital citizen literacy". In order to improve college students' participation as digital citizens, it is crucial to cultivate digital literacy by applying the core competency framework of digital citizenship as a guiding principle. To create a sustainable path for students' participation, a four-pronged approach is proposed involving multi-stakeholders, namely society, government, schools, and teachers.