How Does Internet Use Affect Citizen Political Participation? The Mediating Role of Social Networks

Abstract

This study investigates the complex relationship between internet use and citizen political participation, emphasizing the mediating role of social networks. Using cross-sectional data from the 2021 Chinese Social Survey (CSS), we classify political participation into government-led and citizen-led activities and internet use into informational, entertainment-oriented, and service-oriented types. Overall, our findings reveal a positive correlation between internet use and both citizen-led participation and government-led participation (excluding voting), with a stronger association observed in the former. From a categorical perspective, informational and service-oriented internet use significantly influences all types of political participation, while entertainment-oriented use shows no significant correlation. Additionally, social networks mediate the relationship between internet use and political participation. Service-oriented internet use is more dependent on social networks to connect with political participation compared to information-oriented internet use. This study contributes to the ongoing debate on the impact of digital media on civic engagement by providing nuanced insights into how specific internet activities and social networks shape political participation in China.