Introduction: The networked young citizen: Social media, political participation and civic engagement

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores Michael Xenos, Ariadne Vromen and Brian D. Loader contention where they articulate a model of social media and political engagement among young people and test it using data from representative samples of young citizens in Australia, US and UK. It addresses the impact of engagement, and participation, within participatory cultures of social media on the public orientation of young people. Emily Vraga, Leticia Bode, Jung Hwan Yang, Stephanie Edgerly, Kjerstin Thorson, Chris Wells, and Dhavan V. Shah draw upon contemporary theories of political socialisation move away from tradition-transmission perspectives to consider the diverse ways in which parents and children can develop discrete political orientations. Kjerstin Thorson provides a microanalysis of political talk and interaction by young citizens networking on Facebook. The chapter explains the ways school students use social media in their social or informal community-based networks.