Digital Citizenship and Online Learning in Pakistan: Highlighting the Need for Promoting Responsible Online Behavior in a Growing Digital Education Landscape

Authors

  • Samra Ameer PhD Scholar, Institute of Education & Research, Muslim Youth (MY) University, islamabad, Pakistan.
  • Prof. Dr. Malik Hukamdad Director, Institute of Education & Research, Muslim Youth (MY) University, Islamabad, Pakistan.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62997/psi.2025b-42086

Keywords:

Digital Citizenship, Online Learning in Pakistan, Responsible Online Behavior, Digital Education, Cyberbullying, Privacy Violations, Digital Literacy, Ethical Online Practices, Youth Empowerment

Abstract

This study explores the levels of awareness, perceptions, and applied challenges related to digital citizenship among the main stakeholders in education especially students, teachers, and parents. In this study mixed-methods exploratory sequential design was used, researchers first conducted in-depth interviews with 20 teachers and 20 parents to know the actual problem, followed by a quantitative survey distributed to 200 students. Results of the study indicated a notable deficiency in digital citizenship knowledge, with more than half of parents and educators unfamiliar with or untrained in areas such as online ethics, data privacy, and misinformation. Students reported that their understanding of digital behavior often stems from social media, rather than formal instruction. While many teachers showed interest in teaching digital citizenship, they cited systemic issues such as lack of time, insufficient curriculum integration, and limited digital resources as barriers. Similarly, parents recognized their role in supporting their children online but expressed uncertainty and low confidence in doing so effectively. The research is guided by a conceptual model based on the nine pillars of digital citizenship, which include components like digital literacy, access, communication, safety, and ethical online conduct. Triangulation of the data underscores the urgent need for curriculum integration, targeted teacher training, and parent-focused awareness programs. The study concludes with strategic, evidence-based recommendations for educational institutions, aiming to foster digitally competent, critical, and ethical learners. This research contributes to the discourse on digital citizenship education and offers a practical roadmap for its implementation within diverse learning environments.

Author Biography

  • Samra Ameer, PhD Scholar, Institute of Education & Research, Muslim Youth (MY) University, islamabad, Pakistan.

    Corresponding Author: samraameer01@gmail.com

References

Ali, I., Butt, K., & Warraich, N. F. (2023). Factors effecting digital citizenship in education sector: A systematic review and future direction. Education and Information Technologies, 28(12), 15789-15821. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-023-11811-8

Choi, M., Glassman, M., & Cristol, D. (2017). What it means to be a citizen in the internet age: Development of a reliable and valid digital citizenship scale. Computers & Education, 107, 100–112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2017.01.002

Frau-Meigs, D., O’Neill, B., Soriani, A., & Tomé, V. (2017). Digital citizenship education: Volume 1: Overview and new perspectives. Council of Europe.

Jones, L. M., & Mitchell, K. J. (2016). Defining and measuring youth digital citizenship. New Media & Society, 18(9), 2063–2079. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444815577797

Liu, J., & Shadiev, R. (2025). A review of empirical research on game-based digital citizenship education. Education and Information Technologies, 1-53. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-025-13549-x

Ribble, M. (2015). Digital Citizenship in Schools: Nine Elements All Students Should Know (3rd ed.). Washington DC: International Society for Technology in Education.

Saqib, M. U., & Mushtaq, R. (2022). Content Analysis: An Exploration of Islamic Ethical Values in The Textbooks of 4th Class in Punjab. International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education, 14(6). http://dx.doi.org/10.9756/INTJECSE/V14I6.167

Saqib, M. U., & Mushtaq, R. (2025). Role of National Professional Standards for Teachers in Cultivating Ethical Values in Teachers. ProScholar Insights, 4(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.62997/psi.2025a-41035

Sel, B., & Demi̇rci̇, N. (2025). The global trends in digital citizenship research: A bibliometric analysis with R program and viewer. Education and Information Technologies, 1-29. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10639-025-13332-y

Senos, S., João, G., Loureiro, M. J., Torres, J., & do Rosário, R. M. (2024). Digital citizenship in secondary education: the project “The Internet as we see it”. Educational Media International, 61(4), 368-382. https://doi.org/10.1080/09523987.2024.2436739

Simon, N. (2025). Towards technological literacy: Fostering digital citizenship and sustainable development education in next-generation teaching. In Digital Citizenship and Building a Responsible Online Presence (pp. 241–258). IGI Global. http://dx.doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-6675-2.ch009

Vajen, B., Kenner, S., & Reichert, F. (2023). Digital citizenship education–Teachers’ perspectives and practices in Germany and Hong Kong. Teaching and Teacher Education, 122, 103972. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2022.103972

Vargas-Murillo, A. R., Pari-Bedoya, I. N. M. D. L. A., & Gordillo Bedoya, S. M. (2024, October). Digital Education Strategies and Tools in Developing Citizenship Skills: A Literature Review Based on Scopus (2014-2024). In Proceedings of the 2024 8th International Conference on E-Society, E-Education and E-Technology (pp. 50-55).

Downloads

Published

2025-06-30

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Ameer, S., & Hukamdad, M. (2025). Digital Citizenship and Online Learning in Pakistan: Highlighting the Need for Promoting Responsible Online Behavior in a Growing Digital Education Landscape. ProScholar Insights, 4(2), 81-95. https://doi.org/10.62997/psi.2025b-42086