Participatory Politics: New Media and Youth Political Action - YPP Survey Report

Participatory Politics:
New Media & Youth Political Action

Link to: Full Report

The MacArthur Research Network on Youth and Participatory Politics (YPP) under the direction of Cathy Cohen, University of Chicago and Joseph Kahne, Mills College have released findings for one of the first large-scale, nationally representative studies of new media and politics among young people. 3,000 young people between 15 and 25 years of age were surveyed about how they use the Internet, social media, and engage in politics.

The study included large numbers of black, Latino, and Asian American respondents, allowing for unique statistical comparisons across race. Contrary to traditional notions of a technological digital divide, the report found that substantial numbers of young people across racial and ethnic groups are engaging in "participatory politics."

Some Findings

  • 41% of young people engaged in at least one act of participatory politics during the prior 12 months.
  • 43% of white, 41% of black, 38% of Latino, and 36% of Asian American youth participated in at least one act of participatory politics during the prior 12 months.
  • 84% of respondents reported they and their friends would benefit from learning more about how to tell if information they find online is trustworthy.

      • Link: Key Data

      Participatory Politics

    • reach large audiences and mobilize networks, often online on behalf of a cause
    • help shape agendas through dialogue with and feedback to political leaders
    • enable participants to exert greater agency through the circulation or forwarding of political information (e.g., links) as well as through the production of original content, such as a blog or letter to the editor.

      • Recent Press

    • Huffington Post Political Pioneers or Bed Texters
    • Ebony.com The Revolution Will Be Digitized: Black Youth and Digital Social Capital
    • Chicago Sun Times Youth politics: Social media bridges, race, ethnic divides: University of Chicago survey

      • Report Documents

      Link: Full Report
      Link: Executive Summary
      Link: Key Data
      Link: Toplines
      Link: Press Release

      For more information contact:
      Joseph Kahne, YPP Research Network
      Mills College School of Education
      5000 MacArthur Blvd.
      Oakland, CA 94613

      email: ypp@mills.edu
      website: http://ypp.dmlcentral.net
      network contact: Sandra Mistretti
      email: civicsurvey@mills.edu