Practising citizenship through online media: An interpretive case study of Chinese New Zealanders’ civic engagement online

Abstract

Civic engagement is vital for a functioning democracy. Digital media broadens avenues of civic engagement, allowing people to practise various forms of citizenship. This article explores Chinese New Zealanders’ civic engagement on various digital media platforms. The findings result from an interpretive analysis of 38 Chinese New Zealanders’ in-depth interviews. I found that interviewees practised engaged and flexible citizenship through digital media activities. These two forms of citizenship enable Chinese New Zealanders to negotiate multilayered identities and disclose internal diversity. They also used social media to develop essential skills to address everyday concerns. The research enriches the knowledge of the Chinese diaspora's online media practices and deepens the understanding of digital media's democratic potential.