Page 114 - UKZN Proceedings of the Conference Report

These mobile applications offer significant advantages, such as the ability to ‘push’ information to users wherever they are, provide location-based services, and enable users to create and share content from any location. Consequently, m-government holds considerable promise for fostering more dynamic and meaningful citizen engagement with public institutions.
The culture of digital democracy represents a new wave of civic technology hopefulness, closely tied to the emergence of social media applications such as Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) (Kelly 2024). This digital culture emphasises principles such as transparency, open data, and the free flow of information, enabling citizens to access policies and government directives (Levin and Mamlok 2021). In the South African context, where service delivery is a core function of local government and municipalities, these principles align seamlessly with the Batho Pele principles. These principles advocate for public service delivery that is not only efficient and effective but also rooted in ethical practices by government officials.
Furthermore, civic technology plays a pivotal role in empowering citizens and fostering active participation, particularly within democratic societies. Rochmatullah et al. (2023) highlights the interdependent relationship between civic technology and youth engagement, underscoring its potential to strengthen the digital culture within communities. These digital platforms provide young people with opportunities to voice their concerns, not only advocating for their own interests but also contributing to shaping policies and decisions that have far-reaching impacts (Rochmatullah et al. 2023). Consequently, the civic technology culture reinforces key democratic values such as transparency and accountability, resonating strongly with the youth demographic and encouraging their active involvement in governance processes.
The internet and social media platforms, particularly those accessible through mobile applications, offer youth innovative ways to communicate, engage with civic technology, and address pressing social issues. These digital tools have become instrumental in empowering young people to challenge societal challenges and foster change. However, some scholars highlight the potential risks associated with social media and digitalisation, arguing that they pose threats to fragile democracies and contribute to disengaged or superficial public participation (Gross and Schulte-Römer, 2019). Despite these concerns, differing perspectives present a more optimistic view. Saud et al. (2023) refute the notion that digital platforms weaken democracy, instead asserting that civic technology serves as a robust mechanism to strengthen digital democracy, promote social and political awareness, and provide equal opportunities for individuals across diverse cultural and
ethnic backgrounds. This perspective emphasizes the potential of civic tech to foster a sense of belonging and inclusivity within digital communities.
From this vantage point, the enthusiasm for change and active participation in community development creates new opportunities for digital participation, commitment, and involvement. The expansion of digital spaces, particularly those designed to engage and empower youth, holds the potential to inspire meaningful contributions and strengthen democratic practices within society.
In many parts of the world, the number of municipalities maintaining social media accounts, particularly on platforms like Facebook, is on the rise, even though such practices are not mandated by law (Wukich 2021). This trend reflects the growing recognition of the potential for digital platforms to enhance communication and engagement between local governments and their communities. Building on this development, the present research aims to address a critical gap in civic participation: youth apathy toward municipal engagement. The primary purpose of this research is to develop and assess an innovative, technology-based model, specifically a social media-like app called My Munici-Pal, designed to tackle youth apathy towards civic engagement and municipal participation. This app aims to leverage digital technology to bridge the gap between young citizens and their local governments, providing a dynamic platform for interaction and participation in municipal matters. The key objectives of this research are as follows:
1. To increase youth engagement: Leverage digital technology to encourage more active participation of young people in local government and community matters. This objective seeks to engage youth by providing an easy-to-use, accessible platform for their involvement in municipal issues.
2. To promote transparent communication: Provide a platform that facilitates open dialogue between youth and municipal officials, fostering trust and accountability. This objective focuses on the importance of transparency in building mutual understanding and encouraging civic trust.
3. To influence policy and decision-making: Empower young citizens to influence policy outcomes by creating a space where their voices can be heard and their contributions valued. This objective aims to encourage youth to become active agents in shaping policies that impact their lives and communities.
4. To enhance civic awareness: Use the app to inform youth about municipal issues and governance processes, making civic participation more accessible and relevant. This objective highlights the importance of increasing knowledge about how local governments function, ultimately promoting informed participation in civic activities.
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