The Mediation Effect of Internet Use Gratification and Internet Usage on Positive Youth Development

Abstract

Participation of youth in politics is critical because through the participation, they develop leadership skills, teamwork abilities, and effective communication skills that are important not only for their own success but also for the development of the country. Therefore, the present study aims towards investigating the factors that contribute towards their participation by examining the roles of social media usage, perceived information quality, political interest, and political knowledge in Malaysian youth political participation. We conducted an online survey involving youth between the ages of 18 and 35 from various youth associations in Malaysia and received 525 responses. The findings reveal that social media usage, perceived information quality, political interest and political knowledge pose significant relationships with political participation. The findings explicate the implications of these variables on political participation and present an in-depth knowledge and understanding about Malaysian youth political participation. The outcomes of this study will also create awareness to leaders as well as policy makers, government and non-governmental organizations on how to formulate and design policies related to political participation and subsequently, on how to effectively use them to mobilize Malaysian youth. The paper also highlights the limitations and suggestions for future research.