Modeling Relationship between Media Literacy Competencies and Use of New Media for Civic Engagement among Youths in New Digital Media Environment

Abstract

There are ample theoretical positions arguing that media literacy competence are essential requirement of citizenship in the new digital environment but little research tries to confirm this position through empirical data. This study collected data from youth in both rural and urban areas of Kwara State Nigeria for the purpose of testing the relationship of media literacy competence to the use of new media for civic engagement. The results of the analysis through partial least squares PLS-SEM indicate that there is significant relationship between media literacy competencies and use of new media for civic engagement. The significant path analysis shows that ability to own or have access to gadgets and the possession of media skills have strong relationship with use of new media for civic engagement. Similar results were obtained for the media literacy competence of critical understanding and communication competences of the youths. Therefore, the outcome provides support for the theoretical positions of the relationship between media literacy and civic engagement. The implication of the findings in the context of Nigeria and other developing countries is that effective us of new media that maximisie opportunities and reduced risk depends on media literacy competence. Keywords: media literacy, new media, civic engagement, digital media