The Impact of Social Networks on Youth Political Engagement and the Perception of Traditional Television Campaigns

The predominant body of literature has consistently established the role of social media in facilitating greater political engagement among younger cohorts, attributed in part to their comparatively lower interest in mainstream political spheres. This study undertakes an exploration of young people’s perception of disengagement from traditional political spheres in light of the substantial influence exerted by social networks in shaping innovative avenues for political participation. Employing a two-wave panel survey (N = 2177; N = 1332) conducted before and after the 2022 Chilean constitutional plebiscite, this research reassesses the importance of electoral television broadcasts within the youth demographic. The findings reveal a correlation between the intensification of online political engagement among young people and their consumption of these televised broadcasts (second screen), challenging the prevailing notion that digitalization diminishes the relevance of televised campaigns. Rather, it suggests that online participation encourages various forms of political participation among young people and fosters positive perceptions of traditional televised campaign methods.