Access points and implications for citizenship: the materialization of internet access and the shaping of citizenship at two wi-fi hotspots in post-pandemic urban Canada

The Covid-19 Pandemic highlighted the critical role of the internet in shaping citizenship in Canada, as individuals and businesses deepened their reliance on digital connectivity. The literature on digital citizenship often focuses on helping people engage in responsible online engagement. However, the nature of digital access structures human experience in many ways. This study asks, "What does the materialization of internet connectivity reveal about our experiences of citizenship?" It considers digital influence in urban contexts by comparing experiences at two internet access points: a public library and a fast-food restaurant in Metro Vancouver. Using a critical spatial perspective, the research explores individual experiences at the micro-level, community and institutional dynamics at the meso-level, and the wider implications of digital policies at the macro-level. This analysis reveals how our relationships with internet technologies inform and materialize our experience of citizenship.