Deliberation about important public issues with the goal of considering different perspectives and moving toward decision-making is a cornerstone of democracy. Yet everyday dialogue about civic issues is also important, especially for youth. Dialogue can provide opportunities for exploration of different views and discovery or confirmation of one’s stance on an issue.

 

Whether it be through formal deliberation or everyday conversation, exchanging ideas about civic issues - especially controversial issues - can often be difficult. Online spaces and social media sites arguably pose unique opportunities and challenges for civic dialogue. One of the key opportunities lies in the possibility of bringing diverse people and perspectives into conversation. Further, for youth in particular, digital and social media are go-to tools for communication. Yet, online challenges may deter youth. Among an array of concerns, the possibility of discussions turning uncivil even hateful may loom large.

 

In this module, we provide activities, resources, and tools to help youth consider the features of good dialogue and navigate the affordances digital and social media provide for dialogue about civic issues. The activities are organized around the following questions:

 

• What are the opportunities and challenges of in-person vs. online dialogue about civic issues?    

• What do good and not so good online discussions of civic issues look like?  

• How can we make good online dialogue about civic issues happen?