ABSTRACT
The evidence in Chapter 4 and Chapter 5 suggests that political participation among the young is changing with some forms of political participation declining and others increasing. The arrival of the Internet has added another channel through which citizens can participate in politics and the Internet ‘has been viewed as both saviour and executioner of the current political system and its organizational infrastructure’ (Ward and Gibson, 2009, 28). To optimists the Internet has the potential to revitalize political participation whereas others believe that ‘Internet politics will disproportionately benefit the elite’ (Norris, 2001, 13). These debates are particularly relevant to the young. The Internet could potentially be an important tool for political participation as communication technologies have been powerful in shaping political mobilization in the past (Chadwick, 2006, 114). Accordingly, it is important that new mass communications technologies such as the Internet are looked at in regards to the young. ‘New forms of mass communication traditionally have had a great appeal for younger people’ and young people ‘are more willing to experiment with new technologies and formats’ (Owen, 2006, 20). The way young people are using the Internet presently may give important clues as to young people’s future political engagement.
