Analysis of Demographic Variables Affecting Digital Citizenship in Turkey

Abstract

The new technologies generated by the digital age are changing how individuals and societies communicate, learn, work, and manage. Although digital citizenship is defined as the behavioral norms regarding the use of technology in the most general sense, it also includes ethical and appropriate behaviors and being informed about this issue while using technology. However, there is a generational gap in digital information and literacy. In this context, the research analyzes digital citizenship according to gender, age, number of children, job position, and education level. In this analysis, which was structured as exploratory research to examine the digital citizenship status of participants, the descriptive model was preferred over quantitative research models. According to the analysis results, it can be said that the participants’ digital citizenship behavior is in the range of “I am undecided” (at a moderate level). Citizenship behavior with the lowest score was “political activism on the internet.” The groups with a significantly higher level of digital citizenship are women, those between the ages of 22 and 42 working as managers, and those at the graduate level.