Digital Citizenship and Digital Literacy to Give Voice to Teenagers: A Participatory Research Project

The paper takes on a theoretical frame of reference related to the concept of active, democratic and intercultural citizenship (Milani et al., 2020). It sits within a complex vision that takes into consideration the tendency towards the universality of human rights, interculturality and interdependency as well as the concept of citizenship as a concrete way of living and acting where there is a sense of collectivity to ultimately pursue common good and global education (CoE, 2016). The authors present data and reflections emerging from the project «The discomfort of teenagers during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown: educational problems and pedagogical reflections» (P.I. Lorena Milani, University of Turin). Teenagers from Val di Susa and Rivoli have actively participated in the research project supported by participatory research methodology (White, 1991). Students have been involved in the project as protagonists, actors and research subjects (Santerini, 2020). They have been considered social problems «experts» and have been involved in the process of making questions as well as creating the research method: an analysis of the discomfort experienced by teenagers (14-19 years of age) during the COVID-19 pandemic has become an opportunity for advocacy, development, digital citizenship and leadership (Rivoltella, 2020).