ABSTRACT
As social media become prominent tools of political communication, it is important to understand how these platforms are utilized for political participation. This chapter explores how Gen Z-ers used Instagram and TikTok as tools of political participation in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. The analysis of interviews with Gen Z-ers shows how young people perceived Instagram as an intimate platform where they connect with family and friends. Such perception led to posting mostly curated educational content about voter registration and voting during the pandemic. In the meantime, they used TikTok as a platform for more explicit political expression. They valued how TikTok videos could reach wider audiences fast, possibly fostering awareness and political mobilization for social causes such as Black Lives Matter. Their main motivation for political participation was a desire for a systemic change. Overall, while Gen Z-ers used both platforms as tools for political participation, they also highlighted how the spread of fake news on both platforms is a limitation. Moreover, they emphasized the importance of traditional ways of political participation, such as community organizing, volunteering, and even running for office. This chapter discusses these findings in the socio-cultural and political moment of the 2020 presidential elections.
