Exploring the level of digital citizenship awareness among female students in the information science department at Umm Al-Qura University

Abstract

This study tried to unveil the female students’ awareness level in the department of information technology, Umm Al Qura University, Saudi Arabia with the criteria of digital citizenship under the digital revolution in the world today. The digital transformation has a great effect on how persons would deal with the digital data and information. The study depended on the descriptive analytical methodology, because the nature of this methodology is suitable for the subject of the study from the beginning of data collection, that are required to the study, analyzing and interpreting data, to the results phase, that contributes in achieving the goals of this study. Current results pointed out that the total level of female students’ awareness level with the nine criteria of digital citizenship was medium with an average of 139.3 degree. The total values of the nine criteria from the lowest to the highest value ranges from 149 to 237 degree. In some criteria, the female students’ awareness level was high, but in other criteria, this level was medium. The students’ awareness level was raised with the following criteria: “digital access to the information sources”, “educational services”, “electronic market”, “digital communication”, “digital etiquette”, “digital laws”, “digital rights and responsibilities”, and “digital security”. On the other hand, female the students’ awareness level was medium with two creating the criterion of “promotion of digital culture” and the criterion of “digital health and safety”. Among the most important recommendations of this study is the enlightenment of society with the digital revolution, and the dissemination of a culture of digital citizenship among Members of the Society, in addition to putting forward a plan at the level of Saudi universities to teach the “digital citizenship” curriculum.