People, especially those seeking to gain power, have been trying to influence other people for ever. In recent days actors at different levels are attempting to influence mass people with increasingly sophisticated tools i.e. digital media. Thus, just media literacy may not be enough to tackle mis-information, disinformation & fake-news, there is probably a need for deeper learning.

Recently, Galli Galli, Kathmandu based local partner of Center for Media, Human Rights and Peacebuilding, organized a discussion on Digital Citizenship. The discussion program featured three speakers: Shuva Kayastha, an activist that approached tech from a feminist-queer lens; Honourable Gagan Thapa, a Member of Parliament and Former Minister; and Baburam Aryal, a internet governance expert.

More than 25 stakeholders participated in the discussion including: bankers, telecommunication company representatives, journalists and editors from both print and digital media, academics, civil society members, and teachers. There was a pretty intense and robust discussion that ended with a question: how and when all of us can respond this complex and sort a confusing digital world? How and when all of us realize that today’s children and youths need better preparedness to navigate and learn to govern that world?