In today’s technologically-mediated and information rich environment, citizens are faced with new opportunities and challenges as they exercise their rights and responsibilities and participate in the affairs of their community as digital citizens. The digital world provides an environment that is fundamental to democratic processes and practice, including the dissemination and mediation of information online. It constitutes an important platform for intercultural dialogue through social media and is the context in which citizens increasingly exercise their rights to participate socially, economically and politically.
Digital citizenship competences define how we act and interact online. They comprise values, attitudes, skills and knowledge and critical understanding necessary to responsibly navigate the constantly evolving digital world, and shape technology to meet our own needs rather than to be shaped by it. Digital citizenship education aims to empowerment of learners of all ages through the acquisition of those competences to be able to actively participation in digital society, to exercise and defend their democratic rights and responsibilities online, and to promote and protect human rights, democracy and the rule of law in the digital environment.
Download the booklet Recommendation CM(2019)10 on developing and promoting digital citizenship education.
The booklet is also available in French.
