ISSN: 2222-6990
Open access
The first quarter of the 21st century has shown how the internet and digitalization as a whole have transformed the way we access and process information, communicate and interact. For those growing up in an era of digitalized information, access to learning transcends borders, and exposes people to diverse cultures and modes of thinking. As digitalization expands, understanding how data is collected, processed, stored and interpreted becomes invaluable in viewing how ideas and identities are formed, and ultimately how information power is wielded. Drawing on data from Malaysian youths born between 1996 and 2011, we explored the role of communication technologies and digitalization in shaping social constructs. Building on a social constructivist perspective, we approached issues related to the use of digital platforms as a source of information. In this paper, we put forward the idea that technological advances in telecommunications have put both state and non-state actors on equal footing in terms of the power to share ideas, influence behavior and construct shared values. Hence, understanding the relationship between internet and digital media use and its influence on youths’ perspectives and behaviors can provide insights towards the future of managing human capital development within an evolving digital landscape.
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