Social Networking Sites as a New Emerging Form of Political and Social Participation in the US

Abstract

This study seeks to understand the usage of Social Networking Sites as a new emerging form of Social and political participation in the US. It examines US citizens’ day-to-day activities under the Social Networking Sites umbrella, and the relationship between the users. Furthermore; the reason behind using these sites and the most used websites are being distinguished through this research. Checking if Social Networking Sites have an impact or influence on the ongoing politics in the US society is also being discussed throughout the study; how citizens express their political views using websites like: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn…etc. Additionally, the relationship of the US citizens within each other; their civic participation, is tested through college students ‘social capital. The need for an adequate investigation of the study’s aims lead to some guiding questions: what reasons do US citizens use Social Networking Sites for, in other words what are the most important activities to be done when using Social Networking Sites? How do Social Networking Sites influence the ongoing of political and social atmosphere in the US society? How does the extensive use of these Sites affect college students’ social capital including life satisfaction, civic participation, self esteem, and trust? The study analyzes the positive impact of Social Networking Sites on changing the application of variant US political and social governmental issues.