Internet effects on political participation: Digital Divide, causality, and new Digital Divide

Hyung Lae Park, Purdue University

Abstract

Does the Internet affect people’s voting behavior? Some scholars believe that the Internet will fundamentally change people’s voting behavior. Others, however, remain skeptical though they agree with the great potential of the Internet to influence voters. The results of this research take a middle ground between them. It shows the Internet’s ability to change users’ voting behavior, but it is not conclusive. It also shows that the Internet causes political participation for some users, but the causal relationship is not as strong as for the conventional media. Finally, it shows that Internet use does not affect all users equally. I call this the new Digital Divide, meaning that Internet effects on voting behavior appear dependent on the way people use the Internet. Internet effects on voting are stronger in political users than in non-political users, by reinforcing likely voters to vote as well as recruiting unlikely voters. These results remind us that the Internet is a supplemental tool (Social Constructivism) rather than a revolutionary tool (Technology Determinism) for political participation. The Internet may not have almighty power to change all users’ voting behavior, but it certainly has a great power to affect users’ voting behavior as long as people use the Internet for political purposes.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

McCann, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Political science|Mass media

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