Young adults and online political participation: Search strategies and the role of social media

Jens Grossklags, Lora Appel, Frank Bridges

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

We investigate the impact of recent government initiatives to increase political participation by young adults via the use of social media technologies and the involvement on social networks. In particular, we conduct an exploratory usability study with different experimental conditions to investigate whether individuals who seek engagement with the government are able to successfully search and locate appropriate touching points, and how that process involves new media technologies. Our investigative study shows how search is impeded by individual and institutional factors, and that social networks are still underappreciated by users when cues are delivered out of their most common usage contexts.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationdg.o 2011 - Proceedings of the 12th Annual International Digital Government Research Conference
Subtitle of host publicationDigital Government Innovation in Challenging Times
Pages302-306
Number of pages5
DOIs
StatePublished - 2011
Externally publishedYes
Event12th Annual International Digital Government Research Conference: Digital Government Innovation in Challenging Times, dg.o 2011 - College Park, MD, United States
Duration: 12 Jun 201115 Jun 2011

Publication series

NameACM International Conference Proceeding Series

Conference

Conference12th Annual International Digital Government Research Conference: Digital Government Innovation in Challenging Times, dg.o 2011
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityCollege Park, MD
Period12/06/1115/06/11

Keywords

  • college students
  • experiment
  • impact of social networks
  • online interaction
  • political participation

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