Article ID: CBB709829293

Digital Citizenship or Inequality? Linking Internet Use and Education to Electoral Engagement in the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election Campaign (October-December 2015)

unapi

This study examines the relationship among digital citizenship, digital inequality, education, and electoral engagement in the unprecedented 2008 U.S. presidential election. The 2008 presidential election was unique providing an African American candidate, a severe financial crisis, and an unusually unpopular sitting president. In this regard, the presidential election provides an unparalleled political moment to examine the impact of digital citizenship on electoral engagement. Digital citizenship represents the capacity to participate in society online through frequent Internet use leading to economic, civic, and political outcomes. Recent research on digital inequality questions the relationship between frequent Internet use and skill development. In addition, education is considered the “universal solvent” that makes citizens more active in political affairs. Accordingly, electoral engagement, which is strongly influenced by education, is the focal outcome for this study. Despite these concerns, digital citizenship is a significant predictor for electoral engagement in the 2008 election. However, a closer examination of digital citizens revealed that electoral engagement was differentiated by gender and education thus furthering digital inequality. Findings suggested that digital citizenship should be broadened to include a set of digital skills that are more likely to account for Internet activities that improve electoral engagement.

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Authors & Contributors
Good, Katie Day
Reich, Justin
Lav R. Varshney
deVries, Karen
Cech, Erin A.
Crooks, Roderic N.
Concepts
Elections
Technology and politics
Computers and computing
Internet
Technology and society
Education
Time Periods
21st century
20th century, late
20th century
20th century, early
Places
United States
France
United Kingdom
Tahrir Square
Egypt
European Union
Institutions
Facebook (firm)
Twitter (firm)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT
California Institute of Technology
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