Intergenerational Digital Communication: Dynamics in Fostering Digital Citizenship

Abstract

Each generation has distinct shared experiences shaping their values and worldviews, leading to differences in digital communication. This article explores these differences among Thailand's digital generations, utilizing the concept of "digital citizenship." A review of related studies is conducted to illustrate the current state of digital citizenship, examine challenges in intergenerational interactions and communication, and identify necessary knowledge gaps for developing digital citizenship. Digital citizenship related to self-development and relationships has been widely studied, especially regarding digital literacy and digital communication. Intergenerational connections are found to both promote and diminish digital citizenship. However, studies on self-respect, respect for others, and self-protection reflects issues stemming from a lack of digital citizenship, such as cyberbullying, online hate speech, and differences in valuing rights, responsibility, and security. While some studies propose digital empathy and resilience as development approaches, they remain limited to certain generations. Therefore, digital citizenship development should emphasize intergenerational relationships to understand the roles of each generation in solving problems, promoting digital citizenship, and building a creative online culture, aiming to reduce communication disparities and create a strong digital society.