L'impact des réseaux sociaux sur la participation civique des adolescents

Thesis Abstract

The rapid proliferation of social media platforms has significantly transformed the landscape of civic engagement among adolescents, raising concerns and questions regarding their influence on civic participation behaviors within this age group. This study investigates the impact of social media usage on the civic participation of adolescents aged 13 to 19 in urban areas, aiming to elucidate the mechanisms through which online engagement translates into offline civic actions. The primary objectives include identifying the extent of social media use for civic purposes, examining the relationship between social media engagement and traditional civic participation, and exploring the mediating roles of perceived social connectedness and civic self-efficacy. Adopting a mixed-method research design, the study combines quantitative and qualitative approaches to provide a comprehensive understanding of the phenomena. The quantitative component involves a cross-sectional survey conducted on a stratified random sample of 600 adolescents drawn from high schools within the city. Data collection instruments comprise a validated structured questionnaire measuring variables such as frequency and type of social media use (based on the Networked Civic Engagement Scale), civic participation activities, civic self-efficacy (using the Civic Self-Efficacy Scale), and perceived social connectedness. The qualitative component involves semi-structured interviews with a purposive subsample of 30 adolescents to explore contextual and nuanced perceptions related to social media's influence on civic engagement. Data analysis for the quantitative data encompasses descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regression modeling—specifically multiple linear regression—to assess the predictive power of social media use on civic participation, controlling for confounding variables like age, gender, socioeconomic status, and baseline civic knowledge. Structural equation modeling (SEM) will further test the hypothesized mediational roles of social connectedness and civic self-efficacy, guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Civic Voluntarism Model. The qualitative data will be analyzed thematically, employing NVivo software, to identify recurring patterns and insights that contextualize and deepen the understanding of quantitative findings. Key anticipated findings include a positive correlation between active social media engagement—particularly participation in civic or political discussion groups—and increased levels of offline civic participation, such as volunteering, attending civic events, or engaging in community decision-making. The analysis is expected to reveal that perceived social connectedness and civic self-efficacy significantly mediate this relationship, emphasizing that social media fosters a sense of belonging and confidence necessary for civic activism among adolescents. The study contributes to existing literature by integrating the digital dimension of civic engagement into traditional civic participation theories, extending understanding of how online environments influence youth civic behaviors in contemporary contexts. It offers a novel empirical perspective by combining quantitative modeling with rich qualitative insights, which together illuminate the mechanisms facilitating or hindering civic participation via social media among adolescents. Concluding with policy implications, the research advocates for targeted educational programs that harness social media’s potential to foster civic responsibility and active participation. Recommendations include developing school-based digital civic literacy curricula and encouraging youth-centered online civic initiatives. Future research avenues suggested involve longitudinal studies to assess causal relationships over time and cross-cultural investigations to compare different sociocultural contexts in shaping digital civic engagement among youth. Overall, this study underscores the transformative role of social media in shaping the civic identities and practices of the next generation, providing a comprehensive framework for policymakers, educators, and civic organizations seeking to leverage digital tools for community development and youth empowerment.