Social participation in the information society : Poland compared to the European Union countries

Purpose: The purpose of the considerations undertaken in the article is to analyze the level of citizen participation in the information society in Poland in the context of the formation of this phenomenon in EU countries, and to identify areas requiring intervention by state or local government bodies. Design/Methodology/Approach: The following research methods were used in the article to achieve the stated purpose of the work: critical analysis of the literature on the subject, the method of cause-effect analysis, the method of comparative analysis and the method of case analysis. Findings: The analysis carried out indicates that the basic indicators characterizing the participation of citizens in the information society in Poland significantly deviate from the level presented by EU member states. This dissonance is particularly evident in the case of people who do not use the Internet and do not have basic digital skills. This state of affairs makes these people unable to actively participate in the information society. This problem may be a significant barrier to the further development of the information society in Poland and requires the intervention of government and local administration. Practical implications: The results of the research can provide important information for state and local government bodies and educational institutions in the development of the information society. Originality/value: The research conducted in the article points to an important issue in the formation of widespread participation of citizens in the information society in Poland and contributes to the solution of this problem.