Connections Between Internet, Social Media News Use, and Political Participation in Kenya

Abstract

Competing theories have been put forward about the effect of Internet and social media use for news on political engagement. Some argue that Internet use for news reduces political engagement while others suggest that it increases political participation. Similar arguments have been advanced for the effects of social media use. This study tests both claims using representative data of over 2000 Kenyans. Bivariate results show that Internet and social media use for news has a positive relationship with political participation in Kenya. After controlling for demographic variables, political orientation variables, and traditional news use, digital media use (i.e., Internet and social media use for news) shows no significant associations with political participation in Kenya.

Social Media Political Communication and Misinformation: A Case Study of the Youth in Kiambu County, Kenya

“…According to the findings explored above, the respondents believed that social media had influenced their political beliefs and stance thus reflecting how social media platforms shape and influence people's political perspectives as highlighted by (Oral, 2023). Additionally, Kipkoech (2023) shows that social media platforms can shape and influence the political perspectives and attitudes of young people, and this study demonstrates that this influence further promotes active engagement in political discourse via social media. Nevertheless, the study's independent variable, which was social media platforms as a digital public sphere that enabled the youth to engage in political communication identified X as the most often used application by the participants for political conversation.…”

“…The primary goal of the study was to assess how Chinese youth used social media for political engagement. In the local context, Kipkoech (2023) highlights several studies that have shown how social media influences news and political engagement. The study employed a survey research design to address the gap in knowledge regarding social media platforms' influence on political participation and the bivariate analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between political engagement in Kenya and the use of social media and the internet for current events.…”