Digital Citizenship and Youth Engagement in West Bengal: A Qualitative Study of Social Media Practices
Sreelogna Dutta Banerjee1 , Arjun Chandra Das2 & Jayanta Mete 3
Research Scholar1, Professor2, Former Professor & Dean3, Department of Education,
Faculty of Education, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, West Bengal, India-741235
Sreelogna Dutta Banerjee ORCID ID – 0009-0006-7585-7182
Jayanta Mete ORCID ID – 0000-0002-9409-2983
Abstract
The rapid expansion of digital technology and social media has significantly transformed how young people perceive, negotiate, and practice citizenship in the twenty-first century. This study examines the relationship between social media engagement, digital literacy, and responsible citizenship among youth in West Bengal, with particular emphasis on the formation of civic identity within digital environments. Adopting a qualitative research design, data were collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with undergraduate students from diverse socio-cultural backgrounds.
The findings reveal that social media functions both as an informational ecosystem and as a participatory public sphere, shaping youths’ awareness of social concerns, political discourse, and community engagement. However, the cultivation of responsible citizenship is strongly mediated by the level of digital literacy individuals possess. Participants demonstrating higher digital literacy exhibited enhanced critical thinking skills, ethical online conduct, and intentional civic participation. In contrast, those with limited digital literacy were more susceptible to misinformation, ideological polarization, and passive content consumption.
The study further indicates that digital citizenship education across formal institutions in West Bengal remains uneven and insufficiently structured, particularly regarding training in critical evaluation of online information, responsible communication, and digital safety practices. The research concludes that nurturing responsible citizenship in the digital era requires collaborative efforts among educational institutions, policymakers, and families. Strengthening digital literacy frameworks, encouraging reflective civic engagement, and fostering shared responsibility across online and offline spaces are essential for empowering youth as informed and ethical digital citizens.
Keywords
Digital Citizenship; Social Media; Digital Literacy; Youth Civic Identity; West Bengal
DOI link – https://doi.org/10.69758/GIMRJ/2602S02V14P013
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