Flow as a Framework to Engage Youth in Participatory Politics on Social Media Platforms

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 34-48
Author(s):  
Sohail Dahdal
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Political Participation ◽  
Flow Theory ◽  
Youth Participation ◽  
Total Absorption ◽  
High Exposure ◽  
Highly Skilled ◽  
Participatory Politics ◽  
Social Media Platforms

Recent studies indicate that youth's increased exposure to political content on social media platforms does not correlate positively with an increased interest in politics. This seemingly contradictory high exposure versus low interest indicates a certain level of apathy towards political participation. This article proposes that in order for youth to experience a stronger engagement in participatory politics, they need to feel challenged and skilled enough to be able to make an impact. This article draws on Csikszentmihalyi's flow theory premise that a state of total absorption, or “flow,” can be attained in a game-like environment in which the actors are highly skilled and the challenges match their skills. The author proposes a framework that relies on combining memes' viral properties—their ability to transmit political content—and the strength of engagement in a game-like environment to create politically provocative memes able to improve youth participation in politics.

Gaming Digital Content Creation to Engage Youth in Participatory Politics

2020 ◽  
pp. 86-101
Author(s):  
Sohail Dahdal
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
Flow Theory ◽  
Total Absorption ◽  
High Exposure ◽  
Content Creation ◽  
Political Messages ◽  
Collaborative Environment ◽  
Participatory Politics ◽  
Social Media Platforms

Social media platforms are increasingly used to disseminate political messages resulting in significant increase of political content exposure among youth. However, research has shown that this increase in consumption does not correlate positively with an increased interest in politics. This high exposure versus low interest indicates a certain level of apathy towards political participation. This chapter proposes that in order for youth to experience a stronger engagement in participatory politics, they need to feel challenged and skilled enough to be able to participate effectively in participatory politics by creating political content on digital media platforms. This chapter draws on Csikszentmihalyi's flow theory premise that a state of total absorption, or “flow,” can be attained in a game-like environment in which the actors are highly skilled and the challenges match their skills. The author proposes a framework that relies on a multi-phased ‘skill and challenge' youth training program in a game-like collaborative environment to improve youth participation in politics.

Youth Participation in Politics

2019 ◽  
pp. 54-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam Phiri
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Social Media ◽  
University Students ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Representative Democracy ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Youth Participation ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
Public Policy Decisions ◽  
Descriptive Survey

This chapter explores the manner in which Zambian university students engage with public policy decisions which are of immediate and future interest to them. It observes that the youths may have little faith in representative democracy and instead are utilizing social media platforms to directly engage with decision-makers and publics, and thus subverting the essence of the authority of parliament. The study uses descriptive survey design and the methodology of “Briscolage” to capture and scrutinize two politically charged cases, and concludes that the youth globally may be challenging liberalism and in that way fashioning a new narrative entrenched in postmodernism.

Social Media as Alternative Public Sphere for Citizen Participation and Protest in National Politics in Zimbabwe

2018 ◽  
pp. 17-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Collen Sabao ◽  
Tendai Owen Chikara
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Political Participation ◽  
Public Sphere ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
The Political ◽  
National Politics ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
The Impact

The chapter examines and discusses the role and communicative potential of social media based platforms in citizen political participation and protests in Zimbabwe specifically focusing on the #thisflag movement on Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp. #thisflag is a social media-based platform that rose to challenge the Zimbabwean government over the political and economic decay as well as rampant corruption characterising the country contemporarily. While a new phenomenon to Zimbabwe and Zimbabwean politics, the impact and communicative potential of social media as an alternative public sphere was recently tested in nationwide protest stayaway organised through the Facebook and Twitter movement under the #thisflag handle/brand. This chapter discusses the manners in which such social media platforms impact national politics in Zimbabwe as well as globally, specifically looking at the #thisflag movement as a case study.

Social Media as Alternative Public Sphere for Citizen Participation and Protest in National Politics in Zimbabwe

2020 ◽  
pp. 772-786
Author(s):  
Collen Sabao ◽  
Tendai Owen Chikara
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Political Participation ◽  
Public Sphere ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
The Political ◽  
National Politics ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
The Impact

The chapter examines and discusses the role and communicative potential of social media based platforms in citizen political participation and protests in Zimbabwe specifically focusing on the #thisflag movement on Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp. #thisflag is a social media-based platform that rose to challenge the Zimbabwean government over the political and economic decay as well as rampant corruption characterising the country contemporarily. While a new phenomenon to Zimbabwe and Zimbabwean politics, the impact and communicative potential of social media as an alternative public sphere was recently tested in nationwide protest stayaway organised through the Facebook and Twitter movement under the #thisflag handle/brand. This chapter discusses the manners in which such social media platforms impact national politics in Zimbabwe as well as globally, specifically looking at the #thisflag movement as a case study.

scholarly journals Activism and Social Media: Youth Participation and Communication

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (18) ◽  
pp. 10485
Author(s):  
Antonio Cortés-Ramos ◽  
Juan Antonio Torrecilla García ◽  
Miguel Landa-Blanco ◽  
Francisco Javier Poleo Gutiérrez ◽  
María Teresa Castilla Mesa
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Social Movements ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Social Transformation ◽  
Social Activism ◽  
Youth Participation ◽  
Communication Model ◽  
School Students ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
Media Preferences

Background: Digitalization and hyperconnectivity generate spaces for youth participation in social activism through social media platforms. The purpose of this research was to analyze young people’s online experience in social activism movements, including their preferences, themes, usage of language, and perceived impact. Methods: The research is framed within a qualitative interpretative–descriptive paradigm. Five focus groups were conducted, including 58 high school students from Malaga, Spain. Results: Several themes were identified through the coding process, including technological devices and social media preferences, participation in social movements or activism, perception of the degree of participation, the focus of interest, motivation for involvement, language use on social media, and beliefs. Conclusions: In a hyperconnected world, youth participation in social movements becomes more relevant. Their interest is reflected in the enormous potential that this social participation of young people has through networks and virtual platforms, becoming an informal communication model with characteristics to be an effective vehicle for social transformation.

scholarly journals RELATIONSHIP AMONG SOCIAL MEDIA USES, INTERNET MEDIATION AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN PAKISTAN

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 43-53
Author(s):  
Munham Shehzad ◽  
Arshad Ali ◽  
Syed Muhammad Bilal Shah
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Political Participation ◽  
Political Information ◽  
Power Dynamics ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Political Activities ◽  
Uses And Gratification ◽  
Uses And Gratification Theory ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Social Media Platforms

Purpose of the study: This study explores the relationship between internet connectivity, social media usage, and political participation. Besides, assess the connection between political participation and vote casting behaviour on social media. Methodology: The researchers used the Uses and Gratification theory and adopted a quantitative method to collect people's views. A designed questionnaire disseminates among 375 male and female Gujrat and Chi-Square analyses conducted on respondents' data. Main Findings: The study's demographic findings reveal that most of the respondents belong to age 18-30 with BA/MA education. Students with single marital status use Facebook most of the time to get political information. The study results reveal that those who use social media platforms actively participate in political activities. Applications of this study: Pakistani people frequently use social media applications like Facebook and Twitter daily to discuss political information. Active social media participants play an important role in political activities and provoke others to participate in the voting process. Novelty/Originality of this study: Investigating the function of information technology in political practice will reinforce new democratic processes in economically developing countries such as Pakistan. The democratic system in Pakistan is not robust. Social media is experimenting with voter self-promotion and mobilisation to influence voters to change power dynamics in a politically motivated way.

Contested Publics: Racist Rants, Bystander Action and Social Media Acts of Citizenship

2014 ◽  
Vol 151 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony McCosker ◽  
Amelia Johns
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Political Participation ◽  
Cultural Citizenship ◽  
Digital Citizenship ◽  
Digital Inclusion ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Dynamic ◽  
Productive Potential ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
Evolving Context

While social media tools enable new kinds of creativity, cultural expression and forms of public, civic and political participation, we often hear more about the harms that arise from instances of trolling and ‘aberrant’ online participation, including racist provocation. In media and communications research, these issues have been framed in a number of ways, usually focusing on new tools for civic engagement, political participation and digital inclusion. Government policy has been shifting steadily towards potential regulation of social media ‘misuse’ in relation to appropriate forms of ‘digital citizenship’. It is in this evolving context that we consider several instances of cultural or nationalistic provocation and conflict in which social media platforms (YouTube and Facebook in particular) have been central to the social dynamic that has unfolded. We examine the recording and uploading of racist rants and associated bystander actions on public transport in Australia and elsewhere around the world. In this article, we contend that while racism remains an issue in uses of social media platforms such as YouTube, this focus often overshadows these platforms' productive potential, including their capacity to support agonistic publics from which productive expressions of cultural citizenship and solidarity might emerge.

scholarly journals The role of social media in promoting political participation: The Lebanon experience

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 248
Author(s):  
Muhammad Saud ◽  
Dima Bassam El Hariri ◽  
Asia Ashfaq
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Political Participation ◽  
Political Knowledge ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
The Political ◽  
Political Talk ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
Political Sector ◽  
Expression Rate

Social media, as part of the political experience, is an emerging trend in the sociology of youths and politics. The present study aimed to investigate the dynamic role of social media in the context of promoting political participation in Lebanese society. A quantitative survey method was used to collect the data from the field, and a total number of 260 questionnaires were filled in throughout the study. The study suggests that people are openly sharing their political opinions on social media platforms and that their expression rate in terms of sharing and learning political knowledge is increasing.  The majority of respondents are using Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for political purposes. The creation of social media has brought about an innovative advancement when it comes to individuals participating freely for political reasoning. Additionally, with exciting features and the freedom to share videos, pictures, and status updates, social media applications increasingly allow them to participate in political discussions. Where social media is providing opportunities for the public to participate in politics, electronic media is also facilitating a generation in terms of them gaining political knowledge from political talk shows. Social media’s appropriateness for spreading something broad has triggered a contagious phenomenon that allows every notice polled to be accessed by everyone. It is possible to conclude that social media is suitable for use as an online political platform, and it provides an opportunity for the respondents to participate in the political sector of their country.

scholarly journals Political Communication With Social Media In Pakistan: Internal And External Efficacy

2021 ◽  
Vol VI (II) ◽  
pp. 130-138
Author(s):  
Hannan Khan Tareen ◽  
Malik Adnan
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Political Parties ◽  
Political Participation ◽  
Political Communication ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Political Knowledge ◽  
Political Campaigns ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
Transmission Of Knowledge ◽  
Social Media Platforms

Political knowledge influences political behavior and political participation as the person who has sufficient political knowledge will contribute his part in political issues and get engage himself in political campaigns. Hence, a politically informed person put an impact upon others by sharing his views and information. Now a day social media has revolutionized the world due to its unlimited features, and it made it easier for everyone to spread the news and especially the political content. Different political parties use social media platforms to engage their voters and especially youth. This study suggests that social media plays a critical role for youngsters to disseminate information regarding politics and affects the internal and external efficacy of youth by the transmission of knowledge and political participation through social media.

scholarly journals Effect of utilization of social media platforms on youth participation in agriculture in Njoro sub-county, Kenya

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khumoetsile O. Sebotsa ◽  
Agnes Nkurumwa ◽  
Miriam Kyule
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Youth Participation ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Agriculture Sector ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
Google Search

Most of rural people, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. In Kenya, rural households who are mainly smallholder farmers rely on agriculture for most of their income. The agriculture sector plays an important role in employment creation. However, the sector is reportedly dominated by the elderly people while youths tend to shy away. These youths are actively involved on social media platforms hence social media have been used to promote their participation in agriculture. However, how utilization of such social media platforms affected their participation in agriculture was not yet known in Njoro Sub-county. This study focused on the effect of utilization of social media platforms on youth participation in agriculture in Njoro Sub-county. A descriptive survey research design was used with a target population of 3,925 and accessible population of 1,597 youth involved in agriculture in Njoro, Kihingo, and Lare wards. A random sampling technique was used to select 150 respondents. A questionnaire was used to collect data. SPSS version 22 and STATA version 12 was used to analyze data. The results revealed Facebook, Google search engine, and WhatsApp as the top three highly used social media platforms amongst the youth in agriculture in Njoro Sub-county.  Besides, Facebook had highest 22 % respondents using it very often, 18% often, 14.7% sometimes and 6.7% rarely. Moreover, the results showed that the level of utilization of social media platforms had a significant effect (p=0.001) on youth participation in agriculture at a 5% level. WhatsApp had a positive effect (p=0.039) on youth participation in agriculture at a 5 % level. The study recommended that government and other potential stakeholders should invest in digital extension services to promote youth participation in agriculture. More youth participation would significantly reduce unemployment.

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