From 'The Big Society' web page
"The Network is, above all, practical. It’s an enormous tool-box of advice, case histories, links to people and resources, using the power of the Internet, Mobiles and face-to-face action."
Is this an illustration of how the division between the have's and the have not's, politically-minded citizens and disenfranchised citizens, is going to become increasingly wider ?
Access to the digital world coupled with issues of literacy and digital literacy, could mean that the increasing reliance by society and government on individuals engaging online, will result people that are even further disempowered in relation to making their voices heard. Everywhere is the assumption that people are going online, are surfing the net, are confident in what they are doing and do have access to appropriate hardware, and if they don't, that they will seek help and support or walk into a library.
How do young people fit into this? Will the digital skills that they have mean that they will engage virtually as well as face-to-face? What about those young people who don't have the hardware or who are blocked from true participation by school firewalls and network security tools?
I see few true examples of excellent youth work practice in relation to participation. I see youth workers who are ignoring the potential power of digital literacy and digital networks in relation to participation and empowerment. How can youth workers support young people in the current environment, with its talk of national citizenship, if they are not engaging with these agenda themselves? It's not enough to claim that young people know it and that it's therefore not necessary to be skilled up. It's not just about skills. It's about inclusion, exclusion, participation, political awareness, access and social capital.
Is this an illustration of how the division between the have's and the have not's, politically-minded citizens and disenfranchised citizens, is going to become increasingly wider ?
Access to the digital world coupled with issues of literacy and digital literacy, could mean that the increasing reliance by society and government on individuals engaging online, will result people that are even further disempowered in relation to making their voices heard. Everywhere is the assumption that people are going online, are surfing the net, are confident in what they are doing and do have access to appropriate hardware, and if they don't, that they will seek help and support or walk into a library.
How do young people fit into this? Will the digital skills that they have mean that they will engage virtually as well as face-to-face? What about those young people who don't have the hardware or who are blocked from true participation by school firewalls and network security tools?
I see few true examples of excellent youth work practice in relation to participation. I see youth workers who are ignoring the potential power of digital literacy and digital networks in relation to participation and empowerment. How can youth workers support young people in the current environment, with its talk of national citizenship, if they are not engaging with these agenda themselves? It's not enough to claim that young people know it and that it's therefore not necessary to be skilled up. It's not just about skills. It's about inclusion, exclusion, participation, political awareness, access and social capital.
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