Authors : Juri Roy

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 4 - April

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/2j4p82cp

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/4zxpphjd

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26apr2449

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : This article provides a comprehensive, interdisciplinary review of the intersection between digitisation and cultural heritage within social environments, synthesising scholarship from heritage studies, digital sociology, information science, and science and technology studies. It is structured into three core domains: (1) the social dynamics of digital heritage engagement, including access, inclusion, participatory co-creation, and community-led initiatives (e.g., DIGICHer, Mukurtu); (2) institutional and policy frameworks governing digital heritage transformation, with detailed analyses of UNESCO, the European Union, and national strategies such as Digital Dunhuang; and (3) critical challenges concerning equity, algorithmic bias, data sovereignty, digital colonialism, and sustainability. The review integrates comprehensive empirical evidence from major digital heritage initiatives—including Europeana, the global survey by the UNESCO Chair on Digital Cultural Heritage, and community-led projects across diverse cultural contexts. Key findings indicate that while digitisation significantly enhances accessibility and fosters new forms of participation, it simultaneously risks perpetuating existing inequalities, introducing algorithmic biases, and creating new dependencies on commercial technology platforms. The review concludes by identifying future research priorities, emphasising the need for inclusive, ethically grounded, and community-centred approaches to heritage digitisation.

Keywords : Cultural Heritage; Digitisation; Digital Transformation; Social Environment And Public Participation; Digital Divide.

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