Social Media Use and Youth Political Participation: Implications for Democratic Engagement

Abstract

The rapid proliferation of social media platforms has significantly transformed patterns of political communication and civic engagement, particularly among youth. Young citizens increasingly rely on digital networks for political information, discussion, mobilization, and activism. While social media is often celebrated as a democratizing tool that amplifies youth voices, concerns persist regarding misinformation, polarization, and superficial engagement. This study investigates the relationship between social media use and youth political participation, examining the mediating roles of political efficacy and online political expression in fostering democratic engagement. Grounded in Uses and Gratifications Theory and Civic Voluntarism Model, the study adopts a quantitative research design. Data were collected from 450 university students through a structured questionnaire. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling was applied using SmartPLS 4 to test measurement reliability, validity, and hypothesized structural relationships. Findings reveal that social media use significantly predicts online political expression and internal political efficacy. Political efficacy positively influences both online and offline political participation. Online political expression also serves as a significant predictor of offline political engagement. The model explains 64 percent of the variance in youth political participation, indicating substantial explanatory power. The study contributes to democratic engagement literature by providing empirical evidence on psychological and behavioral mechanisms linking digital activity to civic participation. The findings suggest that social media can strengthen democratic engagement when it enhances efficacy and meaningful expression rather than passive consumption. Policy implications highlight the need for digital literacy programs and responsible platform governance to maximize democratic benefits.