Studying Social Media and Citizen Participation: Reimagining Democracy and Transformative Education

• In Event: Moscone Center North Roundtable Session 1
  In Roundtable Session: Paulo Freire Roundtable 3

Abstract

In this age of trolls, bots, fake news and narrowcast algorithm-driven news delivery, it is imperative that we recognize that the ways in which social media impact public knowledge and understanding of the issues of the day is an educational issue. As part of the work of the AUTHORS (1, 2, 3)(Canada), we are conducting a global research project series (in several parts of the world in several languages), based on a Freirian conceptual framework, with the intention of analyzing the impact of social media on citizen participation and education. Social media is altering how people read, understand and engage with the world, and we believe that it presents a fundamental challenge to democracy that educators can help negotiate.

Authors

• Paul R. Carr, Université du Québec en Outaouais

• Gina Thesee, University of Quebec, Montreal

• Michael Hoechsmann, McGill University