Internet and politics : citizens, voters and activists / edited by Sarah Oates, Diana Owen and Rachel K. Gibson.[041534784X (hardback : alk. paper) ] London ; New York : Routledge, 2006.
Call#: Van Pelt Library JF799 .I62 2006

“The Internet and youth civic engagement in the United States”

Owen argues that the Internet may be facilitating, if not invigorating, youth civic engagement. She examines the online world as a hub for the coordination, integration and restructuring of political discourse.

Owen’s article is optimistic regarding future civic engagement, but often defines this engagement in terms of student political projects, voters looking at government websites, etc. She doesn’t offer much concrete evidence that these online practices translate into actual voting. She does, rather inadvertently, point out an interesting paradox: those users who are currently the most web-savvy are not yet old enough to legally vote. Furthermore, Owen’s article reveals that the Internet may only further engage those already intending to vote. She also rethinks the traditional concept of engagement, which in this case may mean community-building, blogging, etc. as opposed to actual voting.

This article gives useful breakdowns of American populations using the Internet by age, gender and race (although only in the categories “White” and “Black”) – but does not offer any analysis through more nuanced categories or race, class, geographical location, etc.