Digital Literacy: A Conceptual Framework
Conference paper > Summary Text · 2023
Authors: Şadiye Emet GÜREL, Azra Kardelen Nazlı
10th International Communication Days Digital Capitalism and Communication Symposium, Türkiye, İstanbul, International, Verbal, Summary Text, 2023-2023, pp 451-462
Summary
<p>The rapid change and transformation in information and communication technologies has enabled new communication tools and techniques to become widespread and to take the whole world under influence. As a process that covers all communication and information technologies, digitalization is accepted as a ‘universe’ today. The multifaceted effects of digitalization on all aspects of social life result in it being evaluated as an area that needs to be understood and awareness raised. In this sense, digitalization appears as a field of literacy.</p><p>Digital literacy, in the simplest terms, is the ability to use information and communication technologies. In broader terms, digital literacy is having knowledge, skills and competencies for digital channels, tools and digitalized forms of communication. Digital literacy, which is a set of digital skills and competencies, is one of the most basic types of literacy that must be possessed in order to exist in today's world. Individuals with digital literacy can develop an awareness of the possible problems and dangers that digitalization will bring, have the ability to develop a critical attitude towards controversial issues expressed as ‘gray areas’ in the digital world, and create actions that can take a stand against the dangers of the digital world.</p><p>Digital literacy is intertwined with many fields from communication to ethics, from sustainability to social movements, from psychology to social sciences. In order to understand and make sense of this multidisciplinary field, it is beneficial to focus on literature studies and research. In this conceptual study, digital literacy is discussed within the framework of its definition, scope, historical development and types. It is thought that the study is important because digital literacy is relatively new and will contribute to the literature in shedding light on future studies. The desired result of the study is to create a conceptual framework for digital literacy.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Keywords:</strong> Digitalization, Literacy, Digital literacy, Information and communication technologies.</p>