Year 9 - Citizenship
How well has digital democracy worked in other countries?
Can digital democracy increase political participation?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
Pupils consider what a digital citizen is and how the digital world can be used to increase political engagement, examining cases of how digital democracy has worked across the globe.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to assess how well digital democracy has worked in other countries and consider whether we should use it in the UK.
Key Notes
- Digital tools, like online petitions/consultations & social media can increase access to democratic processes in the UK.
- Other countries have gone further, using it for public decision-making and crowdsourced policymaking.
- Digital democracy in Taiwan & Estonia increases participation but faces challenges like digital access & security risks.
- There are both opportunities and challenges to adopting digital democracy more widely in the UK.
Vocabulary To Learn
- digital democracy: the use of digital tools and technology to increase participation in democratic processes, such as voting, debating, or sharing opinions online
- cybersecurity: online protection against hackers and online threats, keeping devices and personal information safe
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- If digital democracy works in other countries, the UK can easily copy the same methods.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Digital tools, like online petitions/consultations & social media can increase access to democratic processes in the UK. Other countries have gone further, using it for public decision-making and crowdsourced policymaking.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'digital democracy'
the use of digital tools and technology to increase participation in democratic processes, such as voting, debating, or sharing opinions online.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: If digital democracy works in other countries, the UK can easily copy the same methods. Correction: Success in other countries depends on specific factors like strong digital infrastructure, cybersecurity systems and public trust in technology. For the UK to adopt similar methods, these factors must be carefully considered and adapted.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Can political engagement be increased using digital media? Study Guide
- Can voter engagement be improved through digital participation? Study Guide
- How can social media be used to increase political participation? Study Guide
- In person or online: How should MPs vote? Study Guide
- What is digital citizenship? Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 9 Citizenship guide library.