Rola Internetu w budowaniu społeczeństwa obywatelskiego
The role of the Internet in the building process of a civil society

Summary/Abstract: Purpose The purpose of the article is reviewing and assessing the role of the Internet as a medium for digital information exchange, also enabling individuals to publish their own content and to express private opinions in a public domain. Methodology The research approach and methodology are based on the assumption that the popular tendency to assure universal access to the Internet should also be accompanied by diversified activities for propagating a practical utilization of the Internet (among others, for valuable ideas, innovation and knowledge dissemination). Research limitations/implications Based on completed survey results and a comparative analysis of selected data one can conclude that contemporary communication media influence various aspects of public life more and more vividly, including the building process of a civil society. Despite the tiny respondent group, which should be considered as a research limitation, the survey results demonstrate that growing web accessibility and digital competencies can and should lead to the quality improvement of public debate (although the television seems to remain the main political and social medium in Poland so far). Moreover, a complete and conscious participation in the modern socio-cultural life will be more and more complicated without developed digital capabilities, so the prevention of technological exclusion is crucial for the society as a whole. Originality/value The value of the article stems from emphasizing the importance of the development of digital capabilities and competencies in the building process of a civil society. It seems that this vital objective should be accomplished by large-scale educational activities initiated by diverse actors like family, different educational institutions and public sector organizations.

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