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Cyber Citizens: Saving Democracy with Digital Literacy
A grounding exploration of how our online prowess shapes the very essence of democracy
The electronic age compels us to confront the delicate balance between the convenience of constant connectivity and the protection of personal privacy, security, and democracy itself. Presented as a two-fold concern of digital and civic literacy, surveillance and privacy expert Heidi Boghosian argues that our fight to uphold democracy must extend to the online world.
As “smart” citizens, our best chance of thriving in the digital era lies in taking care of our “smart” selves as diligently as we maintain our smart devices. In the same way that smart devices can disclose private information when not adequately secured, our online presence can lead to unintentional data exposure or identity theft. That entails a commitment to learning digital literacy and cyber hygiene from the first moment we engage with technology. Mastering the fundamentals of civics—the rights and responsibilities of citizens—rounds out the democratic assignment. With AI and machine learning poised to play a transformative role in our 21st century lives, we, as humans, have our own generative learning journey to master.
Drawing parallels between Americans and their "smart" devices, Cyber Citizens sheds light on the delicate balance between connectivity and privacy to uphold a truly democratic society.
The electronic age compels us to confront the delicate balance between the convenience of constant connectivity and the protection of personal privacy, security, and democracy itself. Presented as a two-fold concern of digital and civic literacy, surveillance and privacy expert Heidi Boghosian argues that our fight to uphold democracy must extend to the online world.
As “smart” citizens, our best chance of thriving in the digital era lies in taking care of our “smart” selves as diligently as we maintain our smart devices. In the same way that smart devices can disclose private information when not adequately secured, our online presence can lead to unintentional data exposure or identity theft. That entails a commitment to learning digital literacy and cyber hygiene from the first moment we engage with technology. Mastering the fundamentals of civics—the rights and responsibilities of citizens—rounds out the democratic assignment. With AI and machine learning poised to play a transformative role in our 21st century lives, we, as humans, have our own generative learning journey to master.
Drawing parallels between Americans and their "smart" devices, Cyber Citizens sheds light on the delicate balance between connectivity and privacy to uphold a truly democratic society.
- GenresNonfiction
288 pages, Hardcover
Published June 24, 2025
3 people are currently reading
1831 people want to read
About the author
Heidi Boghosian
8 books34 followersNYC attorney and radio host interested in government accountability, mass surveillance, and cybersecurity.
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September 23, 2025In "Cyber Citizens: Saving Democracy with Digital Literacy", Heidi Boghosian confronts one of the most pressing challenges of our time: the erosion of democratic values in the face of digital ignorance and unchecked technological power. The book begins with a simple yet unsettling truth - every day, people willingly hand over their personal data to tech giants and government agencies without fully realizing the cost. In exchange, they are inundated with manipulative ads, emotionally charged clickbait, and an endless stream of misinformation. Boghosian argues that this constant bombardment has made it nearly impossible for ordinary citizens to distinguish truth from falsehood. But her message is not entirely grim; she insists that with the right education and tools, individuals can reclaim their agency and defend democracy in a digital age where manipulation has become the norm.
The author underscores how digital literacy has been overestimated and misunderstood. Many Americans, especially younger generations who have grown up online, assume that their fluency in using apps or navigating social platforms equates to a deeper understanding of the internet. But knowing how to post a video or play an online game is very different from understanding how algorithms curate information, how propaganda spreads, or how personal data is exploited for profit and political gain. Boghosian presents sobering statistics: over one-third of Americans avoid the internet altogether, citing difficulty or lack of interest, while many who do use it are incapable of performing even moderately complex tasks. Perhaps most alarming is the widespread inability to differentiate between opinion and fact, which fuels the broader cultural trend she calls 'truth decay.' This phenomenon, where individuals reject verified information in favor of personal anecdotes or unverified sources, has deeply weakened democratic discourse.
The crisis is compounded by an equally dire lack of civic knowledge. Boghosian explains that most Americans would fail the basic civics test required of new immigrants. Over seventy percent of adults cannot name the three branches of government, and civic education in schools has been gutted since the 1960s in favor of STEM subjects. The result is not only embarrassing ignorance but also a real threat to democracy itself. When young adults are more willing to embrace the idea of a strong leader who bypasses elections, the foundations of participatory government shake. Some students in Rhode Island even sued their state for failing to provide adequate civic education, a case that highlights the seriousness of the problem. For Boghosian, the combination of weak civic knowledge and poor digital literacy is not simply a matter of education policy - it is a democratic emergency.
Alongside this educational vacuum is the dangerous ecosystem of online extremism. The internet, once envisioned as a global town square, has become an incubator for radical ideologies. Boghosian traces the growth of extremist movements from niche bulletin boards in the 1980s to massive platforms like Telegram and 4chan, where hate speech and radical propaganda thrive unchecked. She recalls the disturbing influence of 'The Turner Diaries', a neo-Nazi novel that has inspired acts of terrorism for decades, showing how extremist content moves seamlessly from obscure subcultures to mainstream awareness. Recruitment methods have become even more insidious, targeting children on gaming platforms with memes, humor, and gradual ideological nudges. The story of the Buffalo shooter, whose ideology was nurtured in online gaming spaces, demonstrates the tragic consequences of failing to guard against these tactics. For Boghosian, the digital world is not just a place of distraction or entertainment - it is a battlefield where democracy itself is under attack.
The dangers are not confined to extremist groups. Everyday users face threats from scams, identity theft, and disinformation campaigns designed to destabilize trust. Elderly victims like Louise, who lost her life savings to online fraud, illustrate the deeply personal cost of digital illiteracy. On a larger scale, foreign actors exploit these weaknesses with devastating efficiency. Russian disinformation campaigns during the 2016 U.S. election proved how easily manipulated citizens can become when they cannot evaluate the credibility of digital content. At the same time, technological advances like artificial intelligence and deepfakes make it increasingly difficult to distinguish authentic from fabricated information. As Boghosian notes, the overwhelming majority of deepfake technology is used for non-consensual pornography, underscoring how quickly powerful tools can be weaponized against the vulnerable.
Against this backdrop of chaos, Boghosian turns her attention to the tech giants themselves - the so-called digital overlords. Once heralded as liberators of information, companies like Google, Apple, and Facebook have become monopolistic forces built on surveillance capitalism. Their business models revolve around the collection, commodification, and exploitation of personal data, transforming citizens into consumers and undermining individual autonomy. The hypocrisy is staggering: Google’s early promises of unbiased access to information gave way to a business empire fueled by advertising revenues, while Apple’s branding as a protector of privacy was belied by secret data collection practices. The Cambridge Analytica scandal, where Facebook data was weaponized to manipulate voter behavior, stands as one of the starkest examples of how corporate interests intersect with threats to democracy. In this new form of digital feudalism, citizens live under the rule of corporations whose profit motives run directly counter to democratic ideals.
Yet Boghosian does not surrender to despair. She identifies real moments of progress, particularly in the realm of regulation. The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is framed as a turning point, not just for Europe but for global privacy standards. With its substantial fines and strict consent requirements, the GDPR forced corporations to rethink their data practices, even outside of Europe, creating what scholars call the 'Brussels Effect.' For once, the burden shifted from the individual user to the institutions collecting the data. While the United States still lags behind, with only a patchwork of state laws, the success of the GDPR shows that meaningful reform is possible. Boghosian highlights the growing popularity of privacy-focused tools like Signal and password managers as evidence that citizens are beginning to demand better protections.
Still, she insists that true resilience requires more than just regulation. Education must evolve to reflect the realities of digital life. Countries like Estonia and Finland offer models of what comprehensive digital literacy can achieve, from nationwide e-governance programs to creative school lessons that teach students to think critically about media. In the United States, grassroots initiatives like Detroit’s Community Technology Project show that local organizing can empower people to take control of their digital environments. Even innovative uses of gaming and fan communities demonstrate how civic engagement can thrive when tied to popular culture. For Boghosian, the challenge is not only to teach digital skills but to integrate them with civic education so that citizens can both navigate the digital world safely and participate meaningfully in democratic life.
The book concludes with practical advice for everyday 'digital self-defense.' Boghosian compares digital hygiene to basic health practices - simple habits that don’t require expert training but can prevent most problems. Creating strong passwords, updating software, and being skeptical of manipulative AI outputs are small steps that, when practiced widely, build collective resilience. Families can approach this learning together, whether through privacy audit parties or conversations about the permanence of digital footprints. Communities, too, play a crucial role in spreading digital literacy, with workshops and neighborhood tech groups fostering peer-to-peer education. These practices remind readers that the fight for digital freedom is not abstract; it happens in homes, schools, and communities every day.
Ultimately, "Cyber Citizens: Saving Democracy with Digital Literacy" delivers both a warning and a roadmap. The warning is stark: without greater digital awareness and civic understanding, democracy itself will continue to erode under the weight of misinformation, manipulation, and corporate exploitation. The roadmap, however, offers hope: by practicing digital self-defense, demanding stronger privacy laws, and integrating digital literacy into civic education, individuals can reclaim their role as empowered citizens. Boghosian’s call is clear - digital empowerment is no longer optional. It is the cornerstone of preserving freedom and safeguarding democracy in the twenty-first century.
The author underscores how digital literacy has been overestimated and misunderstood. Many Americans, especially younger generations who have grown up online, assume that their fluency in using apps or navigating social platforms equates to a deeper understanding of the internet. But knowing how to post a video or play an online game is very different from understanding how algorithms curate information, how propaganda spreads, or how personal data is exploited for profit and political gain. Boghosian presents sobering statistics: over one-third of Americans avoid the internet altogether, citing difficulty or lack of interest, while many who do use it are incapable of performing even moderately complex tasks. Perhaps most alarming is the widespread inability to differentiate between opinion and fact, which fuels the broader cultural trend she calls 'truth decay.' This phenomenon, where individuals reject verified information in favor of personal anecdotes or unverified sources, has deeply weakened democratic discourse.
The crisis is compounded by an equally dire lack of civic knowledge. Boghosian explains that most Americans would fail the basic civics test required of new immigrants. Over seventy percent of adults cannot name the three branches of government, and civic education in schools has been gutted since the 1960s in favor of STEM subjects. The result is not only embarrassing ignorance but also a real threat to democracy itself. When young adults are more willing to embrace the idea of a strong leader who bypasses elections, the foundations of participatory government shake. Some students in Rhode Island even sued their state for failing to provide adequate civic education, a case that highlights the seriousness of the problem. For Boghosian, the combination of weak civic knowledge and poor digital literacy is not simply a matter of education policy - it is a democratic emergency.
Alongside this educational vacuum is the dangerous ecosystem of online extremism. The internet, once envisioned as a global town square, has become an incubator for radical ideologies. Boghosian traces the growth of extremist movements from niche bulletin boards in the 1980s to massive platforms like Telegram and 4chan, where hate speech and radical propaganda thrive unchecked. She recalls the disturbing influence of 'The Turner Diaries', a neo-Nazi novel that has inspired acts of terrorism for decades, showing how extremist content moves seamlessly from obscure subcultures to mainstream awareness. Recruitment methods have become even more insidious, targeting children on gaming platforms with memes, humor, and gradual ideological nudges. The story of the Buffalo shooter, whose ideology was nurtured in online gaming spaces, demonstrates the tragic consequences of failing to guard against these tactics. For Boghosian, the digital world is not just a place of distraction or entertainment - it is a battlefield where democracy itself is under attack.
The dangers are not confined to extremist groups. Everyday users face threats from scams, identity theft, and disinformation campaigns designed to destabilize trust. Elderly victims like Louise, who lost her life savings to online fraud, illustrate the deeply personal cost of digital illiteracy. On a larger scale, foreign actors exploit these weaknesses with devastating efficiency. Russian disinformation campaigns during the 2016 U.S. election proved how easily manipulated citizens can become when they cannot evaluate the credibility of digital content. At the same time, technological advances like artificial intelligence and deepfakes make it increasingly difficult to distinguish authentic from fabricated information. As Boghosian notes, the overwhelming majority of deepfake technology is used for non-consensual pornography, underscoring how quickly powerful tools can be weaponized against the vulnerable.
Against this backdrop of chaos, Boghosian turns her attention to the tech giants themselves - the so-called digital overlords. Once heralded as liberators of information, companies like Google, Apple, and Facebook have become monopolistic forces built on surveillance capitalism. Their business models revolve around the collection, commodification, and exploitation of personal data, transforming citizens into consumers and undermining individual autonomy. The hypocrisy is staggering: Google’s early promises of unbiased access to information gave way to a business empire fueled by advertising revenues, while Apple’s branding as a protector of privacy was belied by secret data collection practices. The Cambridge Analytica scandal, where Facebook data was weaponized to manipulate voter behavior, stands as one of the starkest examples of how corporate interests intersect with threats to democracy. In this new form of digital feudalism, citizens live under the rule of corporations whose profit motives run directly counter to democratic ideals.
Yet Boghosian does not surrender to despair. She identifies real moments of progress, particularly in the realm of regulation. The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is framed as a turning point, not just for Europe but for global privacy standards. With its substantial fines and strict consent requirements, the GDPR forced corporations to rethink their data practices, even outside of Europe, creating what scholars call the 'Brussels Effect.' For once, the burden shifted from the individual user to the institutions collecting the data. While the United States still lags behind, with only a patchwork of state laws, the success of the GDPR shows that meaningful reform is possible. Boghosian highlights the growing popularity of privacy-focused tools like Signal and password managers as evidence that citizens are beginning to demand better protections.
Still, she insists that true resilience requires more than just regulation. Education must evolve to reflect the realities of digital life. Countries like Estonia and Finland offer models of what comprehensive digital literacy can achieve, from nationwide e-governance programs to creative school lessons that teach students to think critically about media. In the United States, grassroots initiatives like Detroit’s Community Technology Project show that local organizing can empower people to take control of their digital environments. Even innovative uses of gaming and fan communities demonstrate how civic engagement can thrive when tied to popular culture. For Boghosian, the challenge is not only to teach digital skills but to integrate them with civic education so that citizens can both navigate the digital world safely and participate meaningfully in democratic life.
The book concludes with practical advice for everyday 'digital self-defense.' Boghosian compares digital hygiene to basic health practices - simple habits that don’t require expert training but can prevent most problems. Creating strong passwords, updating software, and being skeptical of manipulative AI outputs are small steps that, when practiced widely, build collective resilience. Families can approach this learning together, whether through privacy audit parties or conversations about the permanence of digital footprints. Communities, too, play a crucial role in spreading digital literacy, with workshops and neighborhood tech groups fostering peer-to-peer education. These practices remind readers that the fight for digital freedom is not abstract; it happens in homes, schools, and communities every day.
Ultimately, "Cyber Citizens: Saving Democracy with Digital Literacy" delivers both a warning and a roadmap. The warning is stark: without greater digital awareness and civic understanding, democracy itself will continue to erode under the weight of misinformation, manipulation, and corporate exploitation. The roadmap, however, offers hope: by practicing digital self-defense, demanding stronger privacy laws, and integrating digital literacy into civic education, individuals can reclaim their role as empowered citizens. Boghosian’s call is clear - digital empowerment is no longer optional. It is the cornerstone of preserving freedom and safeguarding democracy in the twenty-first century.
September 19, 2025
Makes some solid points about the importance of digital literacy and the dangers of misinformation. That said, I found the examples of biased facts one-sided—all leaning toward what many will think of as, “right-wing” narratives. For a book about recognizing bias, it would have been stronger if it illustrated examples from both the left and the right. Balanced case studies would have made the message more convincing.
December 20, 2025
The first 3/4 of this book informs the reader how absolutely screwed we are. But the last bit does give some hope and practical ways normally everyday citizens can become more conscious consumers, users, and advocates.
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