Kids These Days: Examining Differences in Political Uses and Gratifications, Internet Political Participation, Political Information Efficacy, and Cynicism on the Basis of Age

2011/04/20 by Ruthann Weaver Lariscy, Spencer F. Tinkham, Kaye D. Sweetser
Social Sciences · #Impact of Technology on Adolescents #Social Capital and Networks #Social Media and Politics

paper · doi:10.1177/0002764211398091

openalex publication_date 2011/04/20 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25

Abstract

Using a telephone survey of randomly selected voters from the general population, the authors sought to understand the interrelatedness of the use of the Internet as a political information source with perception of political participation, political information efficacy, and cynicism. Guided by the uses and gratifications theory and employing the Political Media Gratifications Scale, the authors examine these constructs in terms of emergent generational differences. Findings indicate that digital natives differ from their older voting counterparts, and the researchers conclude more research must investigate further to accurate determine meaning.

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