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About

Digital Rights Monopoly is an interactive simulation game that prompts players to reflect on the digital ecosystem, co-created through the lived experiences and expertise of the Digital Grassroots global youth community.

The game addresses the imbalance in a digital landscape dominated by global north, top-down and for-profit models that exclude youth from shaping their digital future.

This simulation shifts the power to the disenfranchised by serving as a pathway for communities with restricted digital connectivity or low representation in global Internet policy development processes to highlight digital inclusion challenges and solutions in their context.

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Origin Story

Digital Rights Monopoly originated as a board game in 2018, when members of the Digital Grassroots team (Esther Mwema, Uffa Modey and Noha Ashraf) created a digital rights version of the Monopoly game that centered the learning as much as playing.

The Digital Rights Monopoly game was born out of a need: to address the skewed power dynamics of today's digital landscape, where the narrative is predominantly shaped by a select few, sidelining marginalized voices.

Rooted in the real stories and experiences of the Digital Grassroots global youth community from over 40 countries globe, the game set out as a board game that prompted players to delve deep into the intricacies of the digital ecosystem from the perspective of grassroots communities. ��

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Feedback Loops

In the preliminary open consultations with the Digital Grassroots community members, 36 internet governance and digital rights issues experienced by marginalized communities were identified. These were adapted to represent the streets, railroads, utilities and taxes spaces from the traditional monopoly game into the Digital Rights Monopoly game.

In the latest consultations, we reached out to community members through surveys and interviews and received feedback on game components including:

Chance and Community Chest Cards: Improved clarity and elaboration on the 'chance' aspect could enhance the gaming experience.
Accessibility & Innovation: The game is lauded for its innovative approach to highlighting digital rights, with its potential for wider dissemination standing out.
User Experience: The game's user interface and functionality have been well-received, with players finding it intuitive and straightforward.
Currency & Game Movement Clarifications: Questions arose regarding the game's currency symbol and the initial player movement dynamics from the starting point.

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Technological Tools

AI for Player Personas - Stable Dreamer: The project employs AI to create player personas, such as "Stable Dreamer," adding a personalized and dynamic element to the gaming experience. These personas likely enhance engagement by tailoring aspects of the game to individual players, creating a more immersive and relevant learning environment.
�Hosting Project Code Repository - GitHub: GitHub is used as a platform to host the project's code repository. This facilitates collaboration among developers, allowing them to contribute, review, and track changes efficiently. GitHub's features support the open-source nature of the Digital Rights Monopoly project.
�Web Hosting - Netlify: Netlify is utilized for web hosting, providing a platform that is scalable, secure, and easily accessible. This choice of hosting service ensures that the online version of the game is available to a wide audience, contributing to the goal of reaching youth from marginalized communities across the globe.
�Zoho - Communication: Zoho is employed for communication purposes within the project. It likely includes features such as email, chat, or collaboration tools to facilitate effective communication among team members, contributors, and participants. This helps in coordinating efforts and maintaining a connected community around the Digital Rights Monopoly project.
�Accessibility - Adobe: Adobe tools may be used to enhance the accessibility of the game, ensuring that it is usable by individuals with diverse needs and abilities. Features like alternative text for images or customizable interfaces can contribute to a more inclusive gaming experience, aligning with the project's focus on digital rights and inclusion.

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Persona’s

Use of persona’s to model grassroots contexts, based on feedback from community consultations.
Game offers a unique and engaging way for the underserved in the digital rights and internet governance ecosystem.
Goal is for an autonomous game which is played in an accessible, fun, and empowering way.
The game is positioned as a transformative tool for imagining a decentralized digital ecosystem where power is given to the most excluded.

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The Future of Digital Rights Monopoly

Looking ahead, the Digital Rights Monopoly Game aims to be more than just a game; it aspires to become a transformative experience for youth worldwide. In the future, the game will serve as a vibrant platform for learning, co-creation, and cultural exchange among marginalized youth. Participants from diverse backgrounds will engage in meaningful interactions, sharing perspectives, and collectively shaping the digital future. The game's impact will extend beyond its virtual borders, fostering a global community of digitally literate and empowered youth who collaborate on shaping an inclusive and diverse online culture.

In this future scenario, the Digital Rights Monopoly Game will align seamlessly with C/Change's focus areas—feminist technologies, planetary futures, and digital democracy. The game will have become a trailblazer in feminist technologies, actively involving and amplifying the voices of young women and marginalized groups in shaping the digital landscape. It will contribute to planetary futures by fostering a global community that is conscious of the environmental impact of digital initiatives. Furthermore, the game will embody principles of digital democracy, showcasing a participatory and inclusive model where decision-making power is distributed among the most excluded.

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About Taiwo Sobowale

Taiwo Oreoluwa Sobowale is a graduate from the University of Ibadan, a Data Analyst with a background knowledge in Human Resources and Operations. Passionate about Personal Development and Youth Employability. A Podcaster and host of the ‘3 phase conversation’ where she shares her voice on Youth Employability. She's the Business Operations Manager at Digital Grassroots where she manages the team and ensures smooth operational workflow.

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