Editorial: Digital citizenship in the new era of social media

Digital citizenship has become one of the most dynamic and contested concepts in contemporary social research. The rapid evolution of social media platforms, the algorithmic infrastructures that sustain them, and the emergence of new forms of mediated participation have reshaped how individuals engage, interact, and construct meaning in digital environments. This Research Topic, Digital Citizenship in the New Era of Social Media, brings together 27 articles that collectively illuminate the complexities, tensions, and opportunities of civic, social, and cultural life in digitally mediated societies. Rather than treating social media as a neutral arena, the contributions reveal its role as a dynamic ecosystem where visibility, affect, governance, and identity intersect to redefine what it means to act, participate, and belong in the digital age.

Misinformation, disinformation, and public discourse

A first thematic cluster centers on misinformation, disinformation, and the dynamics of public discourse. Several studies examine how false or misleading content circulates, how users engage with it, and how platform structures shape these processes.

Febri Sonni analyzes economic conspiracy theories in Indonesia, showing how financial narratives become distorted through digital channels and influence public perceptions and decision-making. Sarhan and Hegelich investigate coordinated inauthentic behavior in the German COVID-19 discourse, offering a nuanced view of how manipulation intersects with broader discursive trends.

Together, these contributions highlight the civic risks associated with algorithmic amplification, ideological polarization, and the erosion of shared informational norms.

Youth engagement, digital literacy, and participatory cultures

A second group of articles focuses on youth engagement, digital literacy, and participatory cultures. Hai and Xiong explore how Gen Z navigates credibility, identity, and social influence when sharing news. Huang et al. examine how social media shapes urban image and tourism behavior among Chinese Generation Z. Xu et al. analyze short-video addiction and its relationship with the “lying flat” tendency among university students.

These contributions collectively show that digital citizenship among youth is not merely a matter of technical competence but involves complex negotiations of trust, belonging, and social responsibility.

Identity, self-presentation, and mediated social interaction

A third thematic axis addresses identity, self-presentation, and mediated social interaction. Chang et al. offer a multidimensional investigation of VTuber audiences, revealing how virtual personas shape participatory culture and transnational belonging.

Other studies examine motivations for digital dating—such as Li et al.—long-term use of AI companion apps (Zhuo et al.), and the emotional dynamics of mediated relationships. These works demonstrate that digital citizenship is not only cognitive or informational but also emotional, relational, and embodied.

Platform governance, privacy, and digital rights

Another set of contributions examines platform governance, privacy, and digital rights.

The privacy paradox among middle-aged and elderly users is explored by Zhang et al. highlighting tensions between autonomy, vulnerability, and platform power. Research on algorithmic governance and digital rights—such as Hegelich et al.—shows how opaque systems shape user agency. Meanwhile, studies on digital literacy and responsible participation—e.g., García-Peñalvo et al. —underscore the importance of critical competencies for navigating complex digital environments.

These articles resonate with broader debates on data governance, surveillance, and the responsibilities of institutions and platforms in safeguarding equitable participation.

Consumer behavior, digital commerce, and meaning-making

The Research Topic also includes research on consumer behavior, digital commerce, and the interplay between online and offline decision-making.

Narrative strategies in live-streaming commerce are examined by Ruan et al. The concept of time in digital storytelling is explored by Chen et al. Urban image formation among Chinese Gen Z is analyzed by Huang et al., as already stated. These contributions deepen our understanding of how digital citizenship is enacted through consumption, meaning-making, and interaction.

Political and ideological dynamics in social media ecosystems

Finally, several articles address political and ideological dynamics within social media ecosystems.

Research on antifeminist opinion leaders on YouTube—Martínez and García— illustrates how platformed discourse can shape civic attitudes and ideological polarization. Studies on digital activism and civic participation—such as Sánchez-García et al.—examine how users mobilize for social causes. Analyses of social media's role in democratic resilience—Pérez-Colomé et al.—highlight both opportunities and risks for civic engagement.

Conclusion

Taken together, the 27 articles in this Research Topic offer a multidimensional and empirically grounded view of digital citizenship in the era of social media. They show that citizenship today is not confined to formal political participation but is enacted through everyday practices of consumption, identity construction, interpersonal interaction, and discursive negotiation. They also demonstrate that digital citizenship is shaped by structural conditions—algorithmic mediation, platform governance, surveillance, and socio-cultural expectations—that both enable and constrain agency.

This Research Topic invites scholars, educators, policymakers, and platform designers to rethink digital citizenship as a complex, relational, and evolving construct. It underscores the need for interdisciplinary approaches that integrate communication studies, psychology, sociology, ethics, and technology governance. It also highlights the importance of fostering critical digital literacy, ethical awareness, and inclusive digital cultures capable of supporting meaningful participation and mitigating risks.

In sum, Digital Citizenship in the New Era of Social Media offers a timely and necessary reflection on the future of citizenship in an increasingly mediated world. By situating digital practices within broader social, cultural, and technological contexts, the contributions in this Research Topic advance our understanding of how individuals and communities navigate, shape, and are shaped by digital environments. They reveal a landscape where opportunities for connection, creativity, and civic engagement coexist with challenges related to polarization, manipulation, inequality, and emotional strain. As social media continues to evolve, so too must our conceptualizations of digital citizenship—toward frameworks that recognize its complexity, embrace its potential, and address its risks with rigor and responsibility.

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Footnotes

Edited and Reviewed by: Dariusz Jemielniak, Kozminski University, Poland