Political participation in an unlikely place: How individuals engage in politics through social networking sites in China

Xinzhi ZHANG; Wan-Ying LIN

Political participation in an unlikely place: How individuals engage in politics through social networking sites in China

Xinzhi ZHANG, Wan-Ying LIN

Department of Media and Communication

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

60 Citations (Scopus)

75 Downloads (CityUHK Scholars)

Abstract

This study investigates how individuals participate in different modes of political participation via social networking sites (SNS) in China, where channels for participation are restricted and the online information flow is censored. A survey conducted at two large universities in southern China revealed that information exchange uses of SNS and SNS-based political activities were positively associated with the canonical mode of political participation—that is, contacting media and joining petitions and demonstrations. SNS-based political activities also positively predicted political engagement via private contacts, such as lobbying acquaintances of governmental officials, and facilitated political actions initiated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Affiliation with the CCP was found to be a significant predictor of the contacting-lobbying mode of participation and CCP-initiated political activities. Copyright © 2014 (Xinzhi Zhang & Wan-Ying Lin).

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	21-42
Journal	International Journal of Communication
Volume	8
Publication status	Published - 2014

Bibliographical note

Full text of this publication does not contain sufficient affiliation information. With consent from the author(s) concerned, the Research Unit(s) information for this record is based on the existing academic department affiliation of the author(s).

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Research Keywords

social networking sites
political participation
Mainland China
media effects

Publisher's Copyright Statement

This full text is made available under CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

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abstract = "This study investigates how individuals participate in different modes of political participation via social networking sites (SNS) in China, where channels for participation are restricted and the online information flow is censored. A survey conducted at two large universities in southern China revealed that information exchange uses of SNS and SNS-based political activities were positively associated with the canonical mode of political participation—that is, contacting media and joining petitions and demonstrations. SNS-based political activities also positively predicted political engagement via private contacts, such as lobbying acquaintances of governmental officials, and facilitated political actions initiated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Affiliation with the CCP was found to be a significant predictor of the contacting-lobbying mode of participation and CCP-initiated political activities. Copyright {\textcopyright} 2014 (Xinzhi Zhang & Wan-Ying Lin). ",

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T2 - How individuals engage in politics through social networking sites in China

AU - ZHANG, Xinzhi

AU - LIN, Wan-Ying

N1 - Full text of this publication does not contain sufficient affiliation information. With consent from the author(s) concerned, the Research Unit(s) information for this record is based on the existing academic department affiliation of the author(s).

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - This study investigates how individuals participate in different modes of political participation via social networking sites (SNS) in China, where channels for participation are restricted and the online information flow is censored. A survey conducted at two large universities in southern China revealed that information exchange uses of SNS and SNS-based political activities were positively associated with the canonical mode of political participation—that is, contacting media and joining petitions and demonstrations. SNS-based political activities also positively predicted political engagement via private contacts, such as lobbying acquaintances of governmental officials, and facilitated political actions initiated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Affiliation with the CCP was found to be a significant predictor of the contacting-lobbying mode of participation and CCP-initiated political activities. Copyright © 2014 (Xinzhi Zhang & Wan-Ying Lin).

AB - This study investigates how individuals participate in different modes of political participation via social networking sites (SNS) in China, where channels for participation are restricted and the online information flow is censored. A survey conducted at two large universities in southern China revealed that information exchange uses of SNS and SNS-based political activities were positively associated with the canonical mode of political participation—that is, contacting media and joining petitions and demonstrations. SNS-based political activities also positively predicted political engagement via private contacts, such as lobbying acquaintances of governmental officials, and facilitated political actions initiated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Affiliation with the CCP was found to be a significant predictor of the contacting-lobbying mode of participation and CCP-initiated political activities. Copyright © 2014 (Xinzhi Zhang & Wan-Ying Lin).

KW - social networking sites

KW - political participation

KW - Mainland China

KW - media effects

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UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84892468951&origin=recordpage

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 1932-8036

VL - 8

SP - 21

EP - 42

JO - International Journal of Communication

JF - International Journal of Communication

ER -

Political participation in an unlikely place: How individuals engage in politics through social networking sites in China

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Research Keywords

Publisher's Copyright Statement

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