Gender differences in the use of online platforms for political participation
IntroductionCitizens’ disengagement in political participation has become a problem in many democracies due to its negative consequences on the equal and inclusive representation of the population. However, little is known about the extent to which online platforms have become a useful tool for sust...
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| Format: | Article |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Communication |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2025.1625965/full |
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| author | Flavia Cirimele Marilena Macaluso Giulia Agolino Nilay Çabuk Kaya Carla Zappulla |
| author_facet | Flavia Cirimele Marilena Macaluso Giulia Agolino Nilay Çabuk Kaya Carla Zappulla |
| author_sort | Flavia Cirimele |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionCitizens’ disengagement in political participation has become a problem in many democracies due to its negative consequences on the equal and inclusive representation of the population. However, little is known about the extent to which online platforms have become a useful tool for sustaining political participation for the most underrepresented groups (e.g., young adults and women). The present study investigates gender differences in the association between online civic participation and political participation (i.e., interest, opinion formation, and involvement) among young adults in Italy, and the mediating role of affinity with political disengagement in these associations.MethodsData were collected from 1,149 young adults (68.9% women), ranging in age from 18 to 35 years old (Mage = 25.61, SD = 4.41) by using an online survey.ResultsResults of the multiple-group (women vs. men) path analysis model evidenced that online civic engagement is directly and indirectly (through affinity with political disengagement) positively associated with high political participation, with few gender differences. Online civic participation is directly related to the ease of forming opinions in politics only for women.DiscussionOverall, findings suggest some potential benefit of online tools in reducing the gender gap in women’s participation in the political debate. Such findings may help inform the development of future programs aimed at fostering political participation among young adults. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0bc46ba8ada042caa86046e54d9da398 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2297-900X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Communication |
| spelling | doaj-art-0bc46ba8ada042caa86046e54d9da3982025-08-20T03:41:00ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Communication2297-900X2025-08-011010.3389/fcomm.2025.16259651625965Gender differences in the use of online platforms for political participationFlavia Cirimele0Marilena Macaluso1Giulia Agolino2Nilay Çabuk Kaya3Carla Zappulla4Dipartimento Culture e Società, Università degli studi di Palermo, Palermo, ItalyDipartimento Culture e Società, Università degli studi di Palermo, Palermo, ItalyCorso di dottorato Disuguaglianze, differenze, partecipazione, Polo territoriale universitario di Trapani, Università degli studi di Palermo, Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Sociology, Ankara University, Ankara, TürkiyeDipartimento Culture e Società, Università degli studi di Palermo, Palermo, ItalyIntroductionCitizens’ disengagement in political participation has become a problem in many democracies due to its negative consequences on the equal and inclusive representation of the population. However, little is known about the extent to which online platforms have become a useful tool for sustaining political participation for the most underrepresented groups (e.g., young adults and women). The present study investigates gender differences in the association between online civic participation and political participation (i.e., interest, opinion formation, and involvement) among young adults in Italy, and the mediating role of affinity with political disengagement in these associations.MethodsData were collected from 1,149 young adults (68.9% women), ranging in age from 18 to 35 years old (Mage = 25.61, SD = 4.41) by using an online survey.ResultsResults of the multiple-group (women vs. men) path analysis model evidenced that online civic engagement is directly and indirectly (through affinity with political disengagement) positively associated with high political participation, with few gender differences. Online civic participation is directly related to the ease of forming opinions in politics only for women.DiscussionOverall, findings suggest some potential benefit of online tools in reducing the gender gap in women’s participation in the political debate. Such findings may help inform the development of future programs aimed at fostering political participation among young adults.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2025.1625965/fullonline civic participationpolitical interestpolitical opinionpolitical involvementgender differencemistrust |
| spellingShingle | Flavia Cirimele Marilena Macaluso Giulia Agolino Nilay Çabuk Kaya Carla Zappulla Gender differences in the use of online platforms for political participation Frontiers in Communication online civic participation political interest political opinion political involvement gender difference mistrust |
| title | Gender differences in the use of online platforms for political participation |
| title_full | Gender differences in the use of online platforms for political participation |
| title_fullStr | Gender differences in the use of online platforms for political participation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gender differences in the use of online platforms for political participation |
| title_short | Gender differences in the use of online platforms for political participation |
| title_sort | gender differences in the use of online platforms for political participation |
| topic | online civic participation political interest political opinion political involvement gender difference mistrust |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2025.1625965/full |
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