Digital Literacy as Civic Literacy

Defending Democracy in an Algorithmic World

2028 Presidential Campaign of Martin A. Ginsburg, RN

February 13, 2026

I. Introduction – In the 21st Century, Understanding Democracy Requires Understanding the Digital World

Americans no longer get their civic information from town halls and printed pamphlets. They get it from search engines, social media, comment sections, and content algorithms. But few are taught how to navigate these tools—and even fewer know how to tell truth from manipulation.

Digital literacy is now a civic skill. It’s the new foundation for functional democracy.

“If we want voters to make informed decisions, we have to equip them to recognize misinformation, protect their identity, and participate safely online.”

II. The Problem – A Nation Online, but Unguarded

Today’s Americans face:

• Disinformation disguised as news

• Ads and deepfakes targeting emotions, not facts

• Phishing campaigns that impersonate public agencies

• Political manipulation fueled by engagement-maximizing algorithms

Civic confidence suffers when truth [reality] is debatable, and lies are indistinguishable.

III. Integrating Digital Literacy into Civic Education

This administration will launch a Digital Literacy Civic Core, integrating the following into public education and lifelong learning programs:

• Identifying credible sources and verifying claims

• Recognizing manipulation, bias, and algorithmic influence

• Understanding how public information is shared, stored, and searched

• Practicing safe authentication and data protection

This content will be included in:

• K–12 social studies standards

• Community college general education requirements

• Public library and community center workshop toolkits

IV. Building Tools for All Ages and Communities

Digital literacy is not just for students. We will:

• Develop Senior Digital Confidence Programs to support older adults navigating online healthcare, banking, and civic information

• Fund multilingual, culturally adaptive Digital Literacy Navigation Centers in underserved communities

• Partner with public broadcasters to air “How to Vet What You’re Seeing” segments during election seasons

V. Empowering Citizens to Protect Themselves

We will also:

• Deploy a national Digital Self-Defense Campaign with guides on passwords, scams, phishing, and two-factor authentication

• Establish an Online Voting and Information Portal where users can verify ballot language, voting deadlines, and official links

• Create opt-in Digital Civics Digest newsletters with vetted updates on federal issues, programs, and services

VI. Why It Matters – Democracy Relies on Discernment

Disinformation isn’t just dangerous—it’s designed to erode confidence, inflame division, and suppress participation. A resilient democracy is one where the public can identify, question, and resist manipulation.

“Citizens cannot govern what they do not understand. And in the digital age, understanding begins with digital fluency.”

VII. Conclusion – Digital Civics Is the New Common Sense

Every generation of democracy requires new tools to defend it. For ours, that means teaching digital fluency with the same urgency we teach history, math, and writing.

“When Americans are empowered to recognize truth, they can reject manipulation. When they understand their tools, they can wield their power. That is how digital literacy becomes civic strength.”