ABSTRACT
This chapter studies how different generation of the Finnish electorate use the Internet and social media during elections. The chapter especially focuses on whether the use of web and social media has a mobilising potential, especially within the youngest generations. The descriptive analyses focus on the development of use between 2003 and 2019 for so-called Web 1.0 applications and the development between 2011 and 2019 for social media use. Here, the findings show that use of web and social media has increased substantially over time, and especially among citizens belonging to the youngest generation, Gen Z. The explanatory analyses focus on using Web 1.0 and social media respectively. Both are analysed across all generations and within each generation. The main findings of the explanatory analyses are that especially use of social media shows potential for mobilisation, especially for younger generations of citizens.
