The Effect of Internet Filtering on Active Youth Citizenship in the Information Age: Experience from Public Libraries in the United Kingdom.

This study investigates the impact that the practice of Internet filtering is having on youth citizenship in the United Kingdom. It contends that, in the information age, the Internet is a significant channel for information gathering and community participation by youth. A model of active youth citizenship is employed which identifies three dimensions--environment, personal traits, and behaviour--that influence an individual's contribution as a citizen. Empirical research is presented to investigate one source of Internet filtering that is encountered by the young citizen, the public library, and to explore young people's views as users of the resource. The study concludes that the practice of Internet blocking has the potential to impede all three dimensions of active youth citizenship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]