The development of web 2.0 has enabled a model of interaction between people that allows participation on equal terms and collaborative work. According to Aparici, R. and Osuna Acedo, S. (2014) “the culture of participation is one that has no barriers to citizen expression, which supports creativity and the sharing of own and collective creations.”[1]​.

The culture of participation is based on horizontal communication "Horizontality (education)") in which all individuals have the same power and the possibility of exchanging ideas, suggestions, comments and experiences, and working collaboratively. Therefore this communication must overcome functionalist theories "Functionalism (psychology)").

On the other hand, according to García (2012), the process of building the culture of participation is the result of any social engineering process "Social engineering (political science)"). What's more, it is necessary to apply it in the first phases of any social engineering process.[2]​.

As scenarios for participation, we currently have Web 2.0 and social networks, infocommunicative ecosystems that give rise to the development of collective intelligence, interactivity and the architecture of participation.

“Citizenship, for Manuel Castells (1998)[3]​ is a great interacting mind or a webactor in terms of Pisani and Piotet") (2009)[4]​ with the capacity to create its own information and its own communicative style within the digital space.”

People participate in virtual scenarios digitally, leaving a path and traces that make up their digital identity. The relationships that are created thanks to the culture of participation allow us to carry out tasks, share and solve problems, acquire knowledge in a socio-constructive way and develop dynamic communication channels.

In the educational field, the culture of participation gives rise to learning opportunities and greater power for citizens as digital users in social media.

In the social sphere, as Geilfus (2002) indicates, “experience suggests that the majority of successful collaborative efforts have been based on participatory processes and democratic procedures.” Furthermore, it is verified that participation in a project is dynamic, it is not a fixed state, since the participating members become more or less involved at different times in the development process. However, what always ends up determining the degree of participation is the degree of decision in the process.[5]​.