Digital Citizenship and Political Participation: Transforming Democratic Engagement in the Social Media Era

Abstract

This study examines digital citizenship and political participation in transforming democratic engagement in the social media era. The research aims to analyze how citizens’ digital competence, political motivation, and platform-based communication shape the quality of democratic participation. This study applies a qualitative method with a case study design because the phenomenon requires contextual interpretation of citizens’ experiences, meanings, and practices in digital political spaces. The research was conducted in Indonesia, particularly Jakarta and its surrounding metropolitan areas, as these locations represent active centers of political communication, civic mobilization, and social media-based public discourse. Data were collected from twelve purposively selected informants, including young voters, digital activists, civic educators, journalists, political communication practitioners, civil society actors, government communication officers, and ordinary social media users. The findings show that social media expands access to political information and participation, but democratic quality depends on citizens’ digital literacy, ethical awareness, and ability to resist misinformation and polarization. This study recommends strengthening digital citizenship education, civic media literacy, transparent platform governance, and inclusive democratic participation programs.