2021/01/29 by Seungahn Nah, K. Hazel Kwon, Hazel K. Kwon +3 · 2 citations
Social Sciences · #Impact of Technology on Adolescents #Media Studies and Communication #Social Media and Politics
paper · doi:10.1080/10510974.2021.1876129
openalex publication_date 2021/01/29 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Despite a growing body of scholarship on Communication Infrastructure Theory (CIT), the applicability of CIT as an ecological approach in rural and suburban areas remains largely unexplored in comparison with its urban counterpart. The current study advances CIT across the geographically dispersed communities (i.e., urban, suburban, and rural) and explores how community storytelling networks, through social media and interpersonal discussion, interact with the diverse communities on civic participation. A nationwide online panel survey reveals that community-oriented social media (CSM) use was positively associated with civic participation. The results also indicate that the relationship between CSM and civic participation was stronger for those who reside in rural communities. Interpersonal discussion in this study played a similar role for residents living in suburban communities. This study’s theoretical contribution, policy implications, and practical applications are further discussed in the contexts of communication infrastructure, social media, and civic participation.