Digital Democracy

 

Bright Future Democracy Project / Interview with Mikal Tseggai
TITLE: Digital Democracy
A Vision for Solidarity

Mikal Tseggai is a dynamic Dutch politician dedicated to building a more equitable and just country where every individual has equal opportunities regardless of their background. Born in Haarlem in 1995, she developed a passion for public service early on, inspired by the impact of local government. She began her career in The Hague where she served as a municipal councilor from 2018 to 2023 Now a parliamentarian for the GroenLinks-PvdA alliance, she focuses on critical issues including vocational education (MBO), discrimination, racism, antisemitism, human trafficking and sex work policy.

With a clear vision of connection, Tseggai works to bridge different worlds and make sure the voices of younger generations are heard in Parliament. She underlines that opportunities in life too often depend on luck such as your last name, your income or your parents. She advocates for a system rooted in solidarity rather than chance. For her, taking a seat in Parliament is not about seeking permission but about claiming the space that rightfully belongs to young people in a healthy democracy.

Social Media, Youth Safety and Democracy

As a young MP, Mikal Tseggai navigates digital visibility with firm boundaries. Social media

shapes her daily work by opening direct channels to citizens and exposing her to greater levels of public critique. She co-submitted a 2024 motion that emphasized the need for independent and inclusive media as essential pillars of democracy in an era dominated by algorithm-driven information. She warns against relying solely on platforms like TikTok or Instagram and supports free newspaper access for students to strengthen nuance and critical thinking that short-form feeds fail to provide.

One of her deepest concerns is the effect of digital misinformation on young people’s trust in democratic institutions. Algorithmic content often reinforces false narratives. Tseggai notes that many young people repeat inaccurate claims about topics like refugees or housing after encountering them on TikTok. She warns that relying only on short-form content creates a distorted picture of reality which erodes the shared understanding needed for meaningful public debate.

Despite these risks, she sees digital platforms as valuable tools for transparency. She and other young MPs run the TikTok account Kamergenoten to showcase parliamentary work in an accessible and engaging way for youth. Still, she emphasizes that online engagement must go hand in hand with reliable journalism. The initiative offering Dutch students free newspaper subscriptions is, in her view, a crucial step toward building resilient, critically minded citizens.

 Tseggai also highlights the darker side of digital civic spaces where harassment and manipulation flourish. She faces rising levels of online hate and regularly reports serious threats to the police. She argues that social media companies must take greater responsibility for user safety and points to the removal of TikTok’s Dutch moderation team as a step backward. She supports limiting access to social media until ages 14-15 so that children can first develop the skills needed to navigate digital spaces safely.

When reflecting on the role of AI in politics she acknowledges that AI can improve accessibility by simplifying complex political texts, yet insists that political decision-making must remain firmly human-led. For her, technology strengthens democracy only when paired with critical thinking, traditional journalism and human oversight.

Digital Literacy Is the Key

Mikal Tseggai is a perfect example of a policymaker whose work demonstrates how political leadership can mediate the impact of digital platforms on democracy. As a young parliamentarian she understands the power of social media to create direct dialogue with citizens and how youth gain insight into parliamentary life through platforms like Kamergenoten. At the same time she recognizes the downsides of constant online exposure including misinformation, hate speech, weak moderation and echo chambers that shape opinions without people realizing it.

Young generations need strong journalism and solid media literacy to understand society clearly. This is what Tseggai fights for by advocating for safer online environments, better regulation and stronger knowledge that empowers users. In her vision of digital democracy, citizens are educated, protected and active. It is a vision where technology becomes an enhancer of democracy rather than a force that replaces human judgment, opening the door for more people to understand and participate in shaping their collective future.

 This article is produced by Taeyun Kim, Alexandra Osina, Charahja van Broekhoven, Veronika Martemianova, Maria Barasorda, Matvii Drotsyk, Longrui Deng, Barbara Gama, participants in the Bright Future Foundation, as part of the European Union’s “Participate & Promote Democracy” Youth Participation project, in cooperation with Diplomat Magazine and young members of the Armenian partner organization Promising Youth.

Հոդվածը ներկայացնում է Նիդերլանդների երիտասարդ պատգամավոր Միկալ Ցեգգայիի տեսլականը թվային ժողովրդավարության մասին։ Նա պայքարում է, որպեսզի յուրաքանչյուր երիտասարդ ունենա հավասար հնարավորություններ՝ անկախ իր ծագումից։ Ցեգգայը ուշադրության կենտրոնում է պահում թվային մեդիայի ազդեցությունը հասարակության վրա․ սոցիալական ցանցերում տարածվող կեղծ տեղեկությունները, ատելության խոսքը և թույլ վերահսկողությունը կարող են թուլացնել վստահությունը ժողովրդավարության հանդեպ։

Միաժամանակ նա կարևորում է, որ թվային հարթակները կարող են նաև ուժեղացնել մասնակցությունը և բաց լինել խորհրդարանի աշխատանքին, օրինակ՝ երիտասարդ պատգամավորների Kamergenoten նախաձեռնության միջոցով։ Ցեգգայը պաշտպանում է ուսանողների համար անվճար թերթերին հասանելիությունը և մեդիաագրագիտության զարգացումը, որպեսզի երիտասարդները կարողանան տարբերել փաստերը կեղծիքներից։ Նա ընդգծում է, որ տեխնոլոգիան պետք է ծառայի ժողովրդավարությանը, բայց քաղաքական որոշումները միշտ մնում են մարդկանց ձեռքում։

Հոդվածը գրվել է Եվրոպական Միության «Participate & Promote Democracy» (Մասնակցիր և Խթանիր ժողովրդավարությունը) երիտասարդական մասնակցության ծրագրի շրջանակներում։