Internet use, political and civic participation among marginalized youths
Youth political apathy is a global phenomenon that threatens democracies around the world, including Malaysia. The mobilization theory suggests that new communication technologies such as the Internet could increase participation, especially underprivileged group. This quantitative study surveyed...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Published: |
Universiti Putra Malaysia
2019
|
| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/80303/ |
| _version_ | 1848858884058382336 |
|---|---|
| author | Samsuddin, Jamali Lai, Che Ching Hasan, Hamisah Zamri Ahmad, Abd Mua'ti |
| author_facet | Samsuddin, Jamali Lai, Che Ching Hasan, Hamisah Zamri Ahmad, Abd Mua'ti |
| author_sort | Samsuddin, Jamali |
| building | UPM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Youth political apathy is a global phenomenon that threatens democracies around the world, including Malaysia. The mobilization theory suggests that new communication technologies such as the Internet could increase participation, especially underprivileged group. This quantitative study surveyed marginalized Malay youths in the central region to examine: (i) the level of their Internet use; (ii) the level of their political and civic participation; and (iii) the mediating effect of civic engagement in the relationship between Internet use and political participation. The data were obtained through a questionnaire completed by 400 youths aged 15 to 25 years old living in urban poor areas within the Klang Valley. The results show that their Internet use was still confined to basic activities; their political and civic participation was low; and there was a weak positive relationship between Internet use and participation. Civic participation partially mediated the effect of Internet use on political participation. Future efforts to lure young people back into the political socialization process must be mediated over time by civic participation. Enhancement of Internet skills and early exposure to civic activities will likely bode well for their future political action. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T12:20:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | upm-80303 |
| institution | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T12:20:32Z |
| publishDate | 2019 |
| publisher | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | upm-803032023-04-05T03:13:49Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/80303/ Internet use, political and civic participation among marginalized youths Samsuddin, Jamali Lai, Che Ching Hasan, Hamisah Zamri Ahmad, Abd Mua'ti Youth political apathy is a global phenomenon that threatens democracies around the world, including Malaysia. The mobilization theory suggests that new communication technologies such as the Internet could increase participation, especially underprivileged group. This quantitative study surveyed marginalized Malay youths in the central region to examine: (i) the level of their Internet use; (ii) the level of their political and civic participation; and (iii) the mediating effect of civic engagement in the relationship between Internet use and political participation. The data were obtained through a questionnaire completed by 400 youths aged 15 to 25 years old living in urban poor areas within the Klang Valley. The results show that their Internet use was still confined to basic activities; their political and civic participation was low; and there was a weak positive relationship between Internet use and participation. Civic participation partially mediated the effect of Internet use on political participation. Future efforts to lure young people back into the political socialization process must be mediated over time by civic participation. Enhancement of Internet skills and early exposure to civic activities will likely bode well for their future political action. Universiti Putra Malaysia 2019 Article PeerReviewed Samsuddin, Jamali and Lai, Che Ching and Hasan, Hamisah and Zamri Ahmad, Abd Mua'ti (2019) Internet use, political and civic participation among marginalized youths. Human Communication a Journal of the Pacific and Asian Communication Association, 2 (1). pp. 61-85. ISSN 2636-9206 https://myjurnal.mohe.gov.my/public/article-view.php?id=148620 |
| spellingShingle | Samsuddin, Jamali Lai, Che Ching Hasan, Hamisah Zamri Ahmad, Abd Mua'ti Internet use, political and civic participation among marginalized youths |
| title | Internet use, political and civic participation among marginalized youths |
| title_full | Internet use, political and civic participation among marginalized youths |
| title_fullStr | Internet use, political and civic participation among marginalized youths |
| title_full_unstemmed | Internet use, political and civic participation among marginalized youths |
| title_short | Internet use, political and civic participation among marginalized youths |
| title_sort | internet use, political and civic participation among marginalized youths |
| url | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/80303/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/80303/ |