The age of connectivity brought about by the Internet and other digital information technologies is reshaping how Americans do business, obtain news and information about the world, engage in social functions, shop, express their creativity, and engage in community life.
This report provides an overview of the state of online democracy; what it is, where it is headed, and what it means for activists and those who support them. A literature review was completed, online discussions were monitored and nineteen in-depth interviews with leaders in the fields of online technologies, nonprofit capacity building, citizen engagement and social networks were conducted. This effort is intended to be a snapshot in time, not the ultimate guide, and to serve as a jumping off point for further discussions to occur online about how these tools and the culture of online civic engagement can be further developed and scaled for broader, deeper and more lasting citizen action.
