In XXI century, when the Internet is spreading with unbelievable speed, electronic media becomes the most popular source of getting different information about all things around the world. The sphere of politics is no exception. Today, more and more people prefer to get information through the Internet, cable channels and other electronic media and not to use radio or newspapers, which were regarded as traditional information sources for decades. Young adults compose an overwhelming majority of these new electronic media users. Albeit, having access to the information that is always renovating, young people seem to be not engaged in such important sphere of social life as politics.
Some of the scholars state that social networks became the only source of getting information about everything for many young adults. Almost 70% of young adults use the Internet for reading or watching news and 48% use for it social networks as well (Baumgartner and Morris 24-44). The survey demonstrated in the article Myfacetube Politics Social Networking Web Sites And Political Engagement Of Young Adults showed us that people who get political information from SN Sites are bad informed (Baumgartner and Morris 24-44).
Other surveys state that young adults, who may not be interested in politics, can get political information through their online network of friends and acquaintances and this may generate greater political interest (Baumgartner and Morris 24-44). In fact, young adults engage over social media mostly with people they already know. Thanks to electronic media people have got an opportunity to avoid undesirable information and stay both disengaged and disinterested. The Internet and cable television give us the opportunity to choose what we want to watch and listen to when we want to do it.
Young adults know more about the political situation not only in their own country, but also about the situation in the world. They know much more than those who do not use the Internet, but they are not active in the political sphere, they do not vote. Such situation is leading to a weakening a democratic citizenship in many countries worldwide (Loader 1). For example, youth voter turnout rates have dropped by 15 percentage points from 1972 to 2000 (Baumgartner and Morris 24-44).
It is worth mentioning that getting information through electronic resources effect not only the type of information, but also it affects the perception. Our ability to interpret the text, to make the rich mental connections, that form when we read deeply and without distraction, remains largely disengaged (Carr). Men who use internet advertisement and different news are not interested in our knowledge or in the perception of information. It’s in their economic interest to drive us to distraction (Carr).
It is arguable that electronic media, especially the Internet and social networks, support a people’s blind consumption. As a result, this has a negative impact on their political and social engagement. In most cases, they give precedence to entertainment over the serious news.
The democratic potential of online social networking Web sites cannot be denied, but we question whether it has been realized (Carr). Social networks provide so-called “soft news”. It is a mix of news about politics, economy and etc. and entertainment. As a result, it makes people more aware of political life, but they do not put much attention on information that they get.
Electronic media provides brand new ways of political engagement. More and more young people use online mechanisms to taking part in the political and social life of their country. It also called “participatory politics”. Young people might start a new political group online, write and disseminate a blog about a political issue, forward a political video to their social network, or take part in a poetry slam (Kahne and Middaugh 52-56). Such actions have a real influence on political life. Over 40 percent of young people engage in at least one act of participatory politics (Cohen and Kahne 5). Specifically, 43 percent of white, 41 percent of black, 38 percent of Latino and 36 percent of Asian American youth participated in at least one act of participatory politics during the prior twelve months (Cohen and Kahne 5).
Participatory politics give more freedom to young people to participate and be interested in politics in their own way. Although this kind of political engagement is out of various political institutions, political parties and others who interested in unfair political practice. It is worth mentioning that in the age of the Internet participation in some actions begins only after their ending. Thus, for example, discussion of speeches and other political events continues on the Internet after its end. And it gives an opportunity to analyze the thoughts and ideas of young adults considering one or another event through the flowing of time. But there is another discussion, whether that young people who engaged in participatory politics will vote or not? Unfortunately, there is no response to this question. But, among young people who engage in participatory policies, 90 percent of them either vote or engage in institutional politics (Cohen and Kahne 10). So it can be stated that participatory politics became the important part of political engagement.
Nowadays, thanks to social networks young adults can much faster inform a huge number of people about some events that are really important. It has a positive impact on the speed of information spreading.
The engagement in participatory politics depends on the type of act. Much more young people just widespread some funny videos, cartoons or other similar information that related to politicians or various political events without analyzing the information they have got. Such adults know about important events in the political sphere, but the main problem that they do not reflect appropriately. They do not show their attitude towards it. The others prefer to publish their own thoughts, ideas and opinion in form of different articles, discussions or even research papers, if we talking about students, for example.
Participatory politics give more opportunities to young adults to show their creativity. Besides, such participation gives a real possibility for youth who do not engage in political life through the political institution to take part in social and politic life and even somehow affect it.
Social networks as a source of information, serve, first of all, as a platform for intercommunication among people who may have different point of view. As a result, it gives the opportunity to share thoughts and ideas, and sometimes even changed the law in the country. As an example, we can take Morocco. It has happened in 2011. King of Morocco has announced a beginning of democratic reforming in March 2011. One young man decided to put his stamp in this process and also gave such opportunity to other citizens. He has created internet site where people could discuss new laws and made offers considering these laws. These proposals were taking into consideration and nearly 40% of new Constitution of Morocco was created on the basis of people’s proposals. This is how participatory politics works and this is how one man can affect the political changes in the country.
So, from this point of view electronic media has a positive impact on the participation of young people in political life. It gives a chance to approving oneself in the sphere of social and political life without participation in different political institutions, political parties and etc.
But it also has its own negative consequences. For example, gradual involving of young adults in political life through Internet results in a competitive battle in the network among various political powers. In a similar vein, there is a high chance of political instability that can come from the young people. As we can see, nowadays young adults prefer to organize meetings through Internet, using especially social networks such as Myspace, Facebook and etc. Such meetings do not always have a peaceful character. The events of Arab spring begun at the Internet and then have widespread in the real life.
In my opinion, despite some negative sides, electronic media have a positive influence on the participation of young adults in political and social life. It brings new opportunities and possibilities to show oneself without participating in political parties and other political institutions. Thanks to the Internet, especially social networks, young people can change the laws and governments while sitting in front of the computer or laptop. I do not state that such changes are always good, but these changes are the thing of the future.
Although participation in politics of young people is on the low level, the situation continues to change gradually. In my submission, such trend will continue next years. The one thing I can state is that part of young people that engaged in politic life through electronic media will constantly grow. But also there will appear new mechanisms and tools of political agitation that will penetrate in the network and will affect participatory politics. So, it means that in future will appear brand new ways of participatory politics.
It will be a challenge for researchers, teachers, and education policy makers to keep pace with the rapid use of digital media by youth to communicate and ultimately find ways to become civic-minded (Kahne and Middaugh 52-56). But it seems clear that the virtual world can be good for the real world (Kahne and Middaugh 52-56).
Works cited
Baumgartner, Jody and Jonathan Morris. "Myfacetube Politics Social Networking Web Sites And Political Engagement Of Young Adults". Social Science Computer Review 28.1 (2010): 24-44. Web. 18 Aug. 2016.
Carr, Nicholas. "Is Google Making Us Stupid?". The Atlantic. N.p., 2016. Web. 17 Aug. 2016.
Cohen, Cathy J and Joseph Kahne. Participatory Politics. Oakland, CA: YPP Research Network, 2012. Print.
Kahne, J. and E. Middaugh. "Digital Media Shapes Youth Participation In Politics". Phi Delta Kappan 94.3 (2012): 52-56. Web.
Loader, Brian. Young Citizens In The Digital Age. London: Routledge, 2007. Print.
