Youth-serving Persona

Personal Details

YSO Persona.png

Name: John

Age: 28

Gender: Male

Highest level of education: Masters degree

Occupation: Communications and Digital Engagement officer at an INGO.

Ethnicity: Meru

Religion: Christian

County: Meru

Motivations (What motivates this individual's participation in civic engagement through digital media?)

  • Public awareness

  • Dissemination of information

  • Societal change

Aspirations (What aspirations does this individual have of civic engagement in the digital space?)

  • Promotes cause

  • Informed society

  • Decision making capability

  • The youth will unite behind a common goal

  • New perspectives will be shared

Challenges (What obstacles or barriers does this individual face in their civic engagement digitally?)

  • Cyber bullying

  • Insufficient resources

  • Network Issues

  • Censorship

Support (What support does this person need to increase their digital and media literacy in order to participate in civic engagements?)

  • Financial resources

  • Policy reform for cyber crime

  • Training on effective social media usage

  • Safe online spaces

Opportunities (what can this individual take advantage of digitally to improve their civic engagement?)

  • Training opportunities by experts

  • Social media platforms

  • Networking from NGOs/friends

  • Safe discussion platforms

  • Authentic information sources

Leadership moment (When, where and how does this person feel they can take actions/roles/opportunities to lead and influence civically in the digital space?)

  • Social media posts (hashtags)

  • Webinars

  • Discussion forums

  • Focus group discussions

  • WhatsApp opinion groups

  • Blogs

Quote (“Investment in the young generation is a priority in the age we live in today, that is why impacting the youth with digital skills enables them to create an impact in the societies they live in”)

“Youth in Communications for impact”

Where does this individual get their civic/political information? (e.g. news, opportunities)

  • Journal articles

  • Social media posts

  • Political forums

  • News websites

  • Blogs

  • Tweets

  • Podcasts

  • Newspapers

  • TV channels

Digital Access and Literacy

  • How comfortable is this person with using digital communication tools? Very comfortable

  • What digital devices do they have frequent (every day) access to e.g. computer, mobile? Mobile phone, Laptop, Ipad

  • What digital communication tools do they use the most? (WhatsApp, social media – facebook etc) Facebook, Whatsapp

  • How does this person describe their internet connectivity? Good Connection

What types of media is this person attracted to (i.e. sources, formats, etc.)?

  • Infographics

  • Journal articles

  • Blogs

  • Informational videos

What digital media literacy learning and research questions does this person need/want to know?

  • How to carry out the most effective data collection about Social media post penetration?

  • What are the Copyright laws in Kenya?

Leadership moment (When, where and how does this person feel they can take actions/roles/opportunities to lead and influence civically in the digital space?)

  • When they engage citizens in public policy discussions.

  • Through community creation (Creation of one big community that is united) and involvement on digital platforms to eliminate issues that cause political division such as tribe and ethnicity issues.

  • Ensuring that the information they put out is true and factual

Quote (“As government we are actively setting up policies and laws that will protect digital media consumers from having their data harvested or stolen”)

“Youth are less invested in ‘dutiful’ citizenship acts; favouring personalised engagement through digital networking, self-expression, protests and volunteerism.”

Where does this individual get their civic/political information? (e.g. news, opportunities)

  • Firsthand from fellow government officials and politicians

  • News

  • Newspapers

  • Digital Platforms

  • Connections; such as friends in media and high people in the public and private sector

  • Blogs

Digital Access and Literacy

  • How comfortable is this person with using digital communication tools? Very Comfortable

  • What digital devices do they have frequent (every day) access to e.g. computer, mobile? Television,Radio,Mobile,Laptop

  • What digital communication tools do they use the most? (WhatsApp, social media – facebook etc) Facebook, Whatsapp, Twitter, Internet Search

  • How does this person describe their internet connectivity? Very Stable

What types of media is this person attracted to (i.e. sources, formats, etc.)?

  • Reports

  • Articles

  • Academic writing on digital media usage

What digital media literacy learning and research questions does this person need/want to know?

  • What are the active enablers of digital civic engagement by youth i.e. equitable access to technology, civic education etc.

  • What are the important tactics in the repertoire (skills/types of behavior that young people typically use on digital platforms of digital civic engagement i.e. Use of humor, memes etc.