Digital Citizens want to engage with politicians - Feb 10, 2010

Passive democracy is not enough

A  Hansard Society report - Digital citizens and democratic participation: An analysis of how citizens participate online and connect with MPs and Parliament - shows that for Britons who are already online, the internet has made it easier to take part in civic and political activities and that half of them prefer to use the internet to take part in democratic life.

Furthermore, the research suggests that they want online tools which allow them to participate and engage with politicians rather than having a passive, broadcast-only relationship with them.

• 70% of respondents agree that the internet makes it easier for them to participate in civic and political activities
• 49% agree that they would generally prefer to use the internet to participate in civic and political activities
• Age is not a barrier to digital engagement when it comes to contacting one's elected representative
• People aged 55-64 are the age group most likely to contact their MP online (54% did so), and people aged 18-34 were more likely to use the telephone (including mobiles and texting) than any other age group

With over two thirds of the British population online, this report explores how people use the internet to connect with their elected representatives and also the trends in online digital engagement across civic and political life. The research draws on two samples. The first was a national survey of individuals who were already online and the second was a sample of ‘digital leaders' -people with a strong interest in social media and politics. The first group demonstrated how Britons currently use the internet to participate in politics and civic life and the second group identified trends for future and developing technologies.

Among the digital leaders group, the majority (69%) used the internet or email to contact their MP. They use websites, Twitter and blogs to contact or keep informed about their MP. They would most like to see MPs embracing online tools that allow for conversation and opportunities to engage with citizens. Finally, the group wanted accurate, up-to-date, available information and open data standards which would make data accessible for individuals and groups to use.

Andy Williamson, Director of the Hansard Society eDemocracy Programme, and author of Digital citizens and democratic participation: An analysis of how citizens participate online and connect with MPs and Parliament commented: ‘Citizens do not want the passive, broadcast-only relationship with their MPs that has existed until now, they wish to communicate and engage, to track and contribute to the democratic debate. Higher levels of engagement and wider participation in the democratic process will happen when citizens feel that they are a central part of it. This presents a challenge for Parliament - both for MPs and the House authorities.'

For further information, contact Virginia Gibbons, Head of Communications at the Hansard Society on 020 7438 1225 or mediaprog@hansard.lse.ac.uk

Editors' Notes

• The Hansard Society is the UK's leading independent, non-partisan political research and education charity.
• Digital citizens and democratic participation: An analysis of how citizens participate online and connect with MPs and Parliament is a parallel publication to the report MPs Online: Connecting with constituents which looked at how MPs are using digital media to communicate and engage with constituents and was published in February 2009.
• The Hansard Society eDemocracy Programme's thought-leading research has been a formative part of an emergent digital Britain from the internet's impact on Parliament, to better government engagement with citizens and the potential for civil society to harness digital media. The eDemocracy Programme undertakes research and produces publications and commentaries with a focus on online political communication and citizen engagement, exploring the many faces of digital inclusion, citizen engagement, political campaigning and parliamentary process.