NCoC: Online Engagement

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Online Engagement

As technology becomes a larger part of our daily lives, questions have been raised about its impact on our civic health. Does technology force social isolation behind computer screens and mobile devices, or does it provide more convenient outlets to take civic action, stay connected and informed, and express political views?

NCoC believes to address community issues and challenges in any area, research must be collected, discussion must occur, and solutions must be proposed. Here, you can see research, discussion, and solutions associated with online engagement. This is meant to help explain and animate that focus area, as well as facilitate the process of moving from information to action within it.

Online Issues:Research | Discussions | Solutions

Online Research

Title	Date	Type
Study to Explore How Social-Networking Sites Influence Voting BehaviorMuch has been written this election season about how the Internet, especially social-networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube, has changed the way people access and share political information. ...	November 3, 2008	blog
Measuring the Effects of Social Media MarketingA tough question came up in a conversation with a visiting group of Danish communications professionals last week — how do you actually measure the effectiveness of social media outreach? At that ...	September 21, 2008	blog
I’m Ready to Declare a Winner in the 2008 RaceOkay, all the arguments have been made. And I am ready to declare a winner in the 2008 race. The Internet. (The other winner will have to wait until Tuesday night). From the way campaigns connect to supporters, ...	November 3, 2008	blog
PhilanTopicCan Facebook Replace Face-to-Face?Social Actions founder and micro-philanthropy consultant Peter Dietz recently posted an audio clip recorded at the National Conference on Citizenship on the topic "Can Facebook Replace Face-to-Face?" Moderated ...	October 23, 2008	blog
What nonprofits need to know about social mediaSmartBlog on Social MediaIndividuals who attended the “Engaging Citizen 2.0” discussions co-hosted by NCoC, PACE, and the Case Foundation at the 2009 Annual Conference might find helpful this interview with Beth Kanter ...	March 15, 2010	blog
What does “social giving” look like?This infographic from Blackbaud illustrates what the “social giving ecosystem” looks like, thanks to the emergence of technology and social media.	May 20, 2011	blog
Capital Staffers Index explores influence of social media on policyAn interesting new study from Edelman called the “Capital Staffers Index” explored the perceptions of senior legislative staff related to global public affairs and communications. Among ...	December 7, 2011	blog
Infographic: Social Media’s Impact on Giving in 2012An infographic detailing the many ways social media has helped facilitate online giving in 2012.	December 17, 2012	blog
Special Opportunities for Increasing EngagementThis year’s Civic Health Index asked respondents about many forms of civic participation. A closer look at subgroups reveals opportunities for increasing and sustaining their civic engagement.	Sep 22nd, 2008	civic health index
NetizensEngaging OnlineA dramatic recent change in civil society is the opportunity to participate via computers and digital networks.	Sep 17th, 2007	civic health index

Online Discussions and Commentary

Title	Date	Type
Can Facebook Replace Face-to-Face? The 2008 National Conference on Citizenship raised this provocative question with Sean Parker, Founding President of Facebook and Bill Galston of the Brookings Institute. Parker and Galston discussed, ...	November 14, 2008	video
Gatekeepers and New MediaDuring the 2008 National Conference on Citizenship, panelists Bill Galston of the Brookings Institution and Sean Parker, Founding President of Facebook, agreed to disagree on the subject of gatekeepers ...	November 20, 2008	video
The Internet: Civic Polarizer or Unifier?There's an old saying, ”Great minds think alike.” Or is that just what we tell ourselves when we find people who think as we do? Sean Parker, William Galston and Joe Trippi conclude their dynamic ...	November 26, 2008	video
Social Media and A New Model of Civic Engagement by Nick TroianoWhile there remains a vibrant debate over whether social media is creating new activists or just enhancing the tools used by existing ones, it is clear there has been a fundamental change in the way citizens ...	July 7, 2009	discussion
Social Innovation in Civic LifeA 2009 NCoC PanelThis panel at the 2009 National Conference on Citizenship explored the role of social innovation in civic life.	September 25, 2009	video
Social media aids in Haiti earthquake relief and responseFrom Twitter organizing to Google maps to text-to-give donations, the widespread use and application of social technology is altering and facilitating the modes through which Haitian earthquake relief ...	January 15, 2010	discussion
eCitizenship... LiterallyMan uses Twitter, flickr, blogs, video to share naturalization experienceDavid Chen took both eCitizenship and his naturalization ceremony to a new level when he used social media to share his experience of becoming a U.S. citizen. David used Twitter, flickr, personal ...	March 19, 2010	discussion
Is 2010 the new 1517?In a TEDxPotomac talk, Craig Newmark referenced the reformation of the church based on the work of Martin Luther and suggested this decentralization was occurring again, nearly 500 years later, based on ...	May 20, 2010	discussion
’Tis The Season For Solicitationsby Karlo MarceloTechnology and online engagement provide easy access and low cost ways for nonprofits to solicit donations. Mobile apps, celebrity campaigns, and bell ringers have all tried to capitalize on technology ...	December 20, 2010	discussion
Citizen Superheroes: Is There an App for That?Technology plays an increased role in the way citizens respond to community emergencies and, in some cases, fight back against crime. With so many ways (and likely many more to come) to engage, it ...	February 22, 2011	discussion

Online Solutions

Title	Date	Type
Harnessing Active Citizenship: The Internet as a Tool to Engage the PublicIn Using Online Tools to Engage-and be Engaged- by The Public , author Matt Leighninger describes how a “public manager” can use specific technologies to harness the power of active citizenship ...	June 10, 2011	publication
Causes on FacebookCauses empowers anyone with a good idea or passion for change to impact the world. Using our platform, individuals mobilize their network of friends to grow lasting social and political movements.	February 23, 2010	partner
iCivicsiCivics (formerly Our Courts) is a web-based education project designed to teach students civics and inspire them to be active participants in our democracy.	November 17, 2008	partner