Influence of Social Networking Sites on Civic Participation in Higher Education Context

Abstract

This book chapter introduces the debate on youth civic participation specifically looking at the benefits in the higher educational context. This chapter promotes the recent level and character of using the social networking sites and their possibility to admit for the growth of higher education towards student civic participation. The chapter also reviews the recent studies on the civic uses of the social networking sites and argues the learning methods and consequences that could be practiced by learners and instructors when using the social networking sites for civic participation. Hence, the Bandura's social cognitive theory and cognitive engagement theory will be applied to create the framework for exploring the influence of civic efficacy and knowledge, access to civic information on the social networking sites, and civic interest on the association between the social networking sites and youth civic participation. It helps in recognizing the motivation that inspires the youth online civic participation actions in the higher educational settings.