Abstract

Concerns for non-participation of youth in the political process is a global phenomenon, yet not much studies have been carried out in this area especially from virtual perspective.Consequently this study investigated the relationship between features of cognitive engagement and Nigerian youths’ political participation. Thus, the predictors of political participation from a social media viewpoint were assessed.A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 201 randomly selected undergraduate students of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Questionnaire was used to collect data which were analysed using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling. Results revealed that all hypothesized relationships in the study were supported.Specifically, the findings of this study suggested that access to political information on Facebook and Twitter, political interest, and policy satisfaction leads to online political participation on Facebook and Twitter among youths in Nigeria. As a result, this study provides empirical evidence that in an online setting, access to political information, political interest and policy satisfaction promotes political participation, hence adding to the body of knowledge on online political participation. Thus, results of this study may help in proffering solutions on how to engender political participation among Nigerian youths in the digital age.

Key Words: Information, Political Interest, Policy Satisfaction, Online Political Participation, Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM)

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*Aishat Adebisi Abdulrauf is a Doctoral Candidate, School of Multimedia Technology and Communication, Universiti Utara, Malaysia and Lecturer at the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.

**Norsiahbinti Abdul Hamid, Ph.D., is a Senior Lecturer, School of Multimedia Technology and Communication, Universiti Utara, Malaysia.

***MohdSobhi bin Ishak, Ph.D., is a Senior Lecturer, School of Multimedia Technology and Communication, Universiti Utara, Malaysia.

^JCMRJournal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 8, No. 2, October 2016, 101 – 124