SP#2 Critical Digital Literacy

Project: Applied Research

Project Details

Abstract

The cluster will research the concept of Digital Citizenship, taking a socio-technical perspective and focusing on the population of Qatar and the Arab region. The concept of digital citizenship is built on the digital incarnations of social interaction, health, security, literacy, rights and responsibility, etiquette and economy (Isman and Gungoren, 2014). Each of these pillars encompasses both social and technical elements, and this requires an interdisciplinary approach to studying them and, furthermore, contextualizing the approach to the cultural context in which users exist. The proposal is a resubmission of the proposal NPRP13C-0920-200020 "Future is Digital: Reshaping the Qatari Society, Public Policy and Economy" submitted by Dr. Amal Al Malki, the Dean of College of Humanities and Social Science (CHSS) of HBKU, last year. Dr. Raian Ali from the College of Science and Engineering (CSE) is the Program Director in this resubmission. CHSS and CSE colleges support this project that takes a socio-technical interdisciplinary approach to digital citizenship. The cluster has six subprojects and involves over 25 PIs/LPIs: • SP#1 - MARSAD (HBKU CHSS, HBKU CSE): A web based social media observatory of the past, current and trending discussion topics in Qatar and the Arab world (whether in English or in Arabic). The tool will incorporate rich functions such as a data visualization module, sentiment and emotion analysis, bots and misinformation detection module. • SP#2 - Critical Digital Literacy (QCRI, University of Padova, HBKU CHSS): we investigate the role of understanding propaganda and manipulation techniques in remaining in control and aware of cyberspace content and social interactions. • SP#3 - Digital Wellbeing (HBKU CSE, SIDRA, PHCC and HMC): we investigate the notion of digital wellbeing and the role of culture and design in both triggering concerns and mediating solutions to it. • SP#4 - Security and Safety as a Behavior (Qatar University, HBKU CSE, Bournemouth University): We take a behavior-based approach to security and safety in which we investigate successful hacking and social engineering techniques and socio-technical approaches to enhance resilience and encourage reporting. • SP#5 - GESI by Design (Qatar University and HBKU CSE and HBKU CHSS): we will study how to detect issues related to Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) in social media in Qatar and the Arab world, in English and Arabic, and increase awareness of them and also nudge users to more civilized and inclusive language and dialogue. • SP#6 - Digital Citizenship Ambassadors (Northwestern University in Qatar, HBKU CHSS, DIFI, HMC and University of Salamanca): we will produce andragogic and pedagogic material and disseminate it through a volunteering ambassador program within the Qatari society. The team of this cluster comes from various backgrounds covering a broad range of needed skills and knowledge areas for this cluster, such as linguistics, AI, social inclusion, social informatics, HCI, social and cyberpsychology, persuasive technology and online influence. The team includes academics and also practitioners, and policy advisers. The SPs cover the central pillar of Digital Citizenship. They are also connected through the approach of analyzing content and interaction online and intervening to enhance the civility, inclusiveness of the language and dialogue and its safe, secure and healthy nature.

Submitting Institute Name

Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU)
Sponsor's Award NumberNPRP14C-0916-210015 / NPRP14C-37878-SP-469
Proposal IDEX-QNRF-NPRPC-18
StatusActive
Effective start/end date1/01/231/01/28

Primary Theme

  • Social Progress

Primary Subtheme

  • SP - Social Inclusion

Secondary Theme

  • Sustainability

Secondary Subtheme

  • SU - Wellbeing

Keywords

  • News and Social Media,Artificial Intelligence and Arabic Language,Psychology and Behavioral Sciences,Public Policy,Education and Digital Literacy
  • None

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