Date of Award

5-2024

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Honors Thesis

Department

Political Science

First Advisor

Rhea Myerscough

Second Advisor

Ryan Daugherty

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the impact of social media on the civic engagement of active college students in Indianapolis. This was done collecting primary quantitative data from an original survey. The survey measured social media as a source of news, a source of information on voting and registration, a location for political debate, and a place to share one’s voting status. Then, the survey measured aspects of civic engagement/political participation including voting and registration history, political efficacy, and what political activities in which people have partaken. I found that social media is an effective source of information on voting and registration and those who see that type of content online are far more likely to vote. However, social media as a source of news has the opposite effect and is correlated with lower political participation.

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