Digital Literacy in Education: A Bibliometric Mapping of Trends, Themes, and Research Development

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the research landscape of digital literacy in the context of learning and education using a bibliometric approach. Data were collected from Google Scholar through the Publish or Perish (PoP) software, resulting in 300 selected articles published between 2018 and 2023. The data were then analyzed and visualized using VOSviewer to identify publication trends, citation patterns, and keyword relationships. The findings indicate that research on digital literacy has shown a consistent increase, with a peak in 2022, highlighting its growing importance in educational discourse. Citation analysis reveals that digital literacy contributes positively to learning processes and the development of competencies among students and educators. Furthermore, keyword network analysis identifies “digital” as the most dominant term, with five thematic clusters emerging, reflecting diverse yet interconnected research focuses. The study also highlights the role of e-learning as an effective approach to enhancing digital literacy, particularly in higher education. Overall, this research provides a comprehensive overview of trends, thematic structures, and the academic significance of digital literacy, offering valuable insights for future studies in the field.