AberdeenCity.scot: Democratic Digital Platform for Aberdeen’s Youth
Building a Community-Owned Information and Social Hub
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- The Vision: A Democratic Digital Space
- Core Principles
- Platform Structure
- Main Portal: Information and Social Hub
- Subdomains for Thematic Blogs
- Custom Email Addresses
- ThisGuy.scot: Ethical Social Media
- Education and Digital Culture
- Governance and Community Ownership
- How It Works
- Why This Matters for Aberdeen
- Get Involved
- Technical Implementation
- Contact Us
Introduction
AberdeenCity.scot is a democratic digital platform designed to empower young people in Aberdeen to create, share, and manage their own information hubs, social content, and thematic communities. Owned and operated by Aberdeen Dream.scot CIC, this project provides a free, open, and community-driven space where young Aberdonians can build a digital culture that reflects their values, interests, and aspirations.
The domain aberdeencity.scot will serve as the foundation for a network of portals, blogs, and social spaces, all managed by young people for the benefit of the Aberdeen community. Paired with ThisGuy.scot, our ethical social media platform, this ecosystem will foster collaboration, creativity, and civic engagement while promoting digital literacy, ethical technology use, and open source principles.
The Vision: A Democratic Digital Space
AberdeenCity.scot is more than just a website. It is a movement toward digital democracy. Our vision is to create a platform where young people have the tools, freedom, and responsibility to shape their digital presence, content is community-driven, and digital culture is built collaboratively with education and ethics at its core.
Core Principles
| Principle | Description |
|---|---|
| Community Ownership | The platform is run by and for young people in Aberdeen. Decisions about content, design, and direction are made collaboratively by the community. |
| Open Access | The platform is free to use for all Aberdeen residents. No paywalls, ads, or corporate influence. |
| Transparency | All processes, from content moderation to technical decisions, are open and accountable. |
| Education-First | The platform is a learning environment where young people develop digital skills, critical thinking, and ethical online behavior. |
| Ethical Technology | Built on open source software and privacy-respecting tools. No data exploitation, tracking, or manipulation. |
Platform Structure
AberdeenCity.scot is designed as a modular, scalable ecosystem. The platform consists of three main components:
Main Portal: Information and Social Hub
The central hub serves as a community information portal and social space, where young people can share news, create discussion forums, publish articles, and collaborate on projects.
Key Features:
- Community News Feed: Chronological (non-algorithmic) stream of updates.
- Event Calendar: Shared calendar for youth-led events, workshops, and meetups.
- Resource Library: Repository of educational materials, guides, and tools.
- Collaborative Projects: Space for teamwork on initiatives.
- Peer Moderation: Team of young moderators ensures safety and alignment with community values.
Subdomains for Thematic Blogs
Free subdomains for Aberdeen residents to create thematic blogs or projects.
| Subdomain | Purpose |
|---|---|
| tech.aberdeencity.scot | Blog about open source, coding, and tech innovations. |
| arts.aberdeencity.scot | Space for local artists to showcase work and discuss projects. |
| sports.aberdeencity.scot | Hub for sports enthusiasts to share updates and organize events. |
| green.aberdeencity.scot | Blog focused on sustainability and environmental projects. |
| [username].aberdeencity.scot | Personal blogs for portfolios or passion projects. |
How Subdomains Work:
- Request a Subdomain: Submit a proposal outlining your idea.
- Approval Process: Community panel reviews proposals.
- Setup and Support: Approved subdomains are set up with open source tools.
- Community Guidelines: Follow basic rules (e.g., no hate speech, misinformation).
Custom Email Addresses
Free custom email addresses (e.g., name at aberdeencity.scot) to build professionalism and community identity.
Benefits:
- Builds professionalism for job and educational opportunities.
- Strengthens community identity.
- Encourages responsible communication.
How Email Addresses Work:
- Request an Email: Demonstrate involvement in the community.
- Approval: Simple review for legitimate use.
- Setup: Webmail access or instructions for email clients.
ThisGuy.scot: Ethical Social Media for Digital Culture
Ethical social media platform with chronological feed, simple engagement, community moderation, privacy-first design, and open source code.
Integration with AberdeenCity.scot:
- Cross-promotion of blogs and projects.
- Unified identity with custom email addresses.
- Event coordination for community activities.
Education and Digital Culture
| Area | Description |
|---|---|
| Digital Literacy | Workshops on open source tools, online safety, and content creation. |
| Ethical Technology | Philosophical debates, case studies, and guest speakers on tech ethics. |
| Collaborative Learning | Peer mentorship, project-based learning, and resource sharing. |
| Civic Engagement | Local issue discussions, advocacy campaigns, and volunteer opportunities. |
Governance and Community Ownership
How Governance Works:
- Community Council: Elected young representatives oversee direction and policies.
- Open Proposals: Users submit ideas for community review.
- Voting System: Decisions made through community votes.
- Transparency Reports: Regular updates on usage, finances, and decisions.
Roles and Responsibilities:
| Role | Responsibilities | How to Get Involved |
|---|---|---|
| Community Moderator | Ensures content aligns with guidelines. | Apply through the platform; selected by the Community Council. |
| Content Creator | Publishes articles, resources, or projects. | Submit a proposal for a blog or project. |
| Technical Contributor | Develops or maintains open source tools. | Contribute code or suggestions via GitHub. |
| Educator | Leads workshops or creates educational content. | Volunteer to host a session or share expertise. |
| Event Organizer | Plans and promotes community events. | Pitch your event idea to the Community Council. |
How It Works
- Join the Community: Sign up and introduce yourself.
- Contribute: Create content, request a subdomain, or apply for an email.
- Engage: Participate in discussions, attend events, and vote on proposals.
- Grow: Develop skills, build your portfolio, and lead initiatives.
Why This Matters for Aberdeen
Empowering Young People:
- Digital skills for content creation, coding, and collaboration.
- Ownership and agency over digital presence.
- Professional opportunities with custom email and portfolio.
Strengthening Community:
- Amplifying voices of marginalized or underrepresented groups.
- Bridging gaps between young people, businesses, and institutions.
- Encouraging civic engagement in local issues.
Promoting Ethical Technology:
- Open source advocacy for transparent, community-driven technology.
- Privacy and security as alternatives to mainstream platforms.
- Digital literacy for responsible navigation of the digital world.
Get Involved
For Young People:
- Create a blog with a subdomain.
- Write articles on the main portal.
- Join discussions and collaborate.
- Attend workshops on open source, AI, or digital literacy.
- Apply for a custom email address.
For Educators and Mentors:
- Host workshops or mentor others.
- Contribute resources or tutorials.
For Local Businesses and Organizations:
- Sponsor a subdomain or project.
- Collaborate on initiatives.
- Promote opportunities on the platform.
Technical Implementation
| Component | Technology | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Main Portal | WordPress + BuddyPress | Community hub, forums, and resource library. |
| Subdomains | WordPress Multisite or Static Site Generators | Thematic blogs and personal projects. |
| Mail-in-a-Box or iRedMail | Custom email addresses for users. | |
| Social Media | Mastodon (for ThisGuy.scot) | Ethical, chronological social networking. |
| Hosting | Self-hosted on open source infrastructure | Full control over data and privacy. |
| Moderation | Custom-built tools + Community Guidelines | Peer-led content moderation. |
Open Source Commitment:
- All code is publicly available on GitHub.
- Users can contribute, report bugs, or suggest improvements.
- Vendor-neutral and not tied to proprietary services.
Privacy and Security:
- No tracking or data selling.
- End-to-end encryption for sensitive communications.
- User control over data (export or delete at any time).
Contact Us
Email: hiya at aberdeendream.scot
Website: aberdeendream.scot