Muwatana: A Website for Digital Citizenship in Lebanon

Abstract

Although technology has enabled countries to advance their societies, such as by enhancing learning, there were initially few social technology usage guidelines that protected individual rights (Abo Omar & Jwaifell, 2018; Ribble, 2015). Consequently, as societies migrated to the digital world, the rules of citizenship evolved to include principles necessary to ensure proper citizenship online: Digital Citizenship (Abo Omar & Jwaifell, 2018). In Lebanon, the citizenship curriculum is outdated, there are no formal ICT standards for schools, and poor cybersecurity practices, such as piracy, are prevalent (BSA Global Software Survey, 2018; Ghosn-Chelala, 2019). Outside of schools, a study found that 60% of six to eleven-year-old Lebanese children use more screen time than is recommended (Samaha & Hawi, 2017). Furthermore, Lebanon is a country plagued by high rates of fake news exposure and propaganda (El-Masri et al., 2022; Martin & Hassan, 2020). Although governmental agencies in Lebanon provide resources on digital citizenship principles, they do not offer a clear, centralized source that is accessible to individuals with varying levels of digital literacy (General Directorate of General Security, n.d.; Internal Security Forces, n.d.). Moreover, problematic technology usage habits, such as lax digital security and excessive screen time for children, are still prevalent (Fadlallah et al., 2020; Ghosn-Chelala, 2019; Martin & Hassan, 2020; Samaha & Hawi, 2017). This project aims to provide a pilot website in Arabic, English, and French that guides Lebanese citizens toward becoming responsible digital citizens by applying the dispositional theory of thinking (Perkins et al., 1993). The guide will cover topics such as cybersecurity, media literacy, and parenting tips in the digital age. While the website is designed for all age groups, it will include a dedicated section for parents to help raise the next generation with strong digital citizenship principles.