IAFOR invites delegates to participate in The Forum, an ongoing discussion-style session during the conference plenaries, to discuss on-the-cusp topics derived from our conference programmes. At KAMC/MediAsia2024, The Forum will pose and discuss questions about global citizenship and the responsible production and consumption of information, knowledge, and art in the new digital age.
Globalisation and the rise of information technology have significantly altered how people, goods, services, and money move transnationally, and how we produce and consume information, knowledge, and entertainment. Today, digital media has democratised access to and consumption of information and art from all over the world, fostering empathy and understanding, creating a sense of global social responsibility. This has led to debates around global and digital citizenship, as the digital age has made it possible for individuals to engage with the social, economic, and political systems of far-away countries, by raising awareness of global issues, participating in civic activities such as volunteering and donating, and advocating for sustainable development on social media.
Despite the positive influence of social media on global citizenship, there remains a present danger of perpetuating already existing global sociopolitical injustices shaped by narratives driven by colonialism, capitalism, and conflict. The digital divide further exacerbates these issues, threatening democracy by marginalising certain groups who lack access to digital information and communication.
Discussions today on social media and global citizenship heavily focus on critical media literacy. How to foster critical thinking skills and care in what we (re)share online to combat the spread of misinformation, but also agonistic negotiation and public engagement skills to ensure that we act towards mitigating injustice, are questions that remain unanswered in practice. Touching upon issues of representation, power, colonialism, capitalism, Artificial Intelligence, freedom of speech, and critical media literacy, we ask delegates to discuss the following questions:
