Internet use and civic engagement: A structural equation approach

Abstract

Previous empirical examinations of the relationship between Internet use and civic engagement indicate the potential of both positive and negative directionality of the effects of Internet use on civic engagement activities, from marching in protests to joining clubs and other organizations. Compounding this multitude of possibilities is the fact that civic engagement is no longer something which occurs solely in the offline world, with vast new possibilities for, and forms of, civic activity also existing in the online realm. In order to shed new light on this relationship, the current study will explore the effects of Internet use on both online and offline civic engagement, as well as the interaction between online and offline types of civic engagement. Using survey data, and utilizing a structural equation analysis, the results of this study suggest that certain types of Internet use do indeed relate positively with offline civic engagement, though this relationship is mediated through online civic activities. Findings also suggest cyclical relationships between online and offline forms of civic engagement. The conclusions from this study include practical applications for influencing civic engagement in the digital age, as well as changing the way that both Internet use and civic engagement are measured.