Online Public Engagement

This article assesses the technical knowledge required by digital public participation platforms and tools, and how some methods can be inaccessible to underserved communities. It includes a matrix that plots different digital participation platforms and where they land in terms of digital knowledge requirements and levels of participation: inform, consult, involve, collaborate, and empower. The matrix shows the higher the level of engagement, and the higher the requirement of digital knowledge, make the method less accessible for underserved communities. It provides recommendations to lessen digital literacy gaps through education, inclusivity, equity, and creativity.