Can Online Social Network Foster Young Adults’ Civic Engagement?

• In Event: ICA Plenary Interactive Paper/Poster Session II
  In Interactive Paper Session: Children, Adolescents, and the Media Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

This study not only examines the direct association between Wechat social network and
two kinds of civic engagement, but also regards information use in Wechat and group
incentives as mediators in the path model. A total of 297 young adults responded to the
survey questionnaire. The results showed that the size of online social network is related
to online civic publication, while online interaction in Wechat can influence the online
and offline civic engagement positively via information use and group incentives.
Furthermore, two kinds of civic engagement are found to be associated to each other.
The possible reasons for these findings have also been discussed.

Author

• Jinyun Chen, Jinan University