Can Internet Use for Political Information Promote Social Trust and Political Participation?

Volume: 

26

Number: 

2

Published date: 

五月, 2023

Authors: 

Tsong-Jyi Lin

Abstract: 

   Social trust and political participation are crucial indicators for examining the operation of a democracy. According to the traditional argument, social networks, including personal contact and group participation, are the main sources encouraging social trust and political participation. However, the accumulation of social trust and political participation might become more difficult along with the decrease in social networks in a changing society. Can the Internet become a new source for social trust and political participation? The author argues that internet use for political information is a necessary element for promoting social trust and political participation. This study thus hypothesizes that there will be more frequent internet use for political information, the higher the degree of social trust and political participation. By adopting the fifth wave survey of the ABS, this study finds that there is no significant relationship between internet use for political information and social trust. However, internet use for political information can promote political participation which includes the election campaign, contacts, and political protests.

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