INTERNET USES AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN THE US

A Resources Model Over Time

Abstract

A growing body of literature finds a positive relationship between Internet use and political participation. These studies, however, produce conflicting results. Furthermore, few studies, examine how uses of the Internet influence different forms of political participation over multiple elections. In response, this article argues the Internet is a medium allowing for the development of civic skills through virtual-group membership. We argue not all Internet uses will have the same, if any, effect on specific forms of political participation. After providing findings that Internet use itself does not influence political participation, we develop a resource model to explain how uses of the Internet influence forms of political participation. Following the Civic Voluntarism Model (CVM), and using nationally representative post-election data, we find social uses of the Internet increase the likelihood of individuals to engage in time-based political acts during the 2008 and 2010 elections. These particular uses of the Internet, however, have minimal effects on the likelihood of voting. These findings support the theory that particular uses of the Internet produce a specific set of skills.