Civic Life Online―Learning How Digital Media Can Engage Youth

Young people today have grown up living substantial portions of their lives online,seeking entertainment, social relationships, and a place to express themselves. It is clear thatparticipation in online communities is important for many young people, but less clear how thistranslates into civic or political engagement. This volume examines the relationship of onlineaction and real-world politics. The contributors discuss not only how online networks might inspireconventional political participation but also how creative uses of digital technologies areexpanding the boundaries of politics and public issues. Do protests in gaming communities, musicfile sharing, or fan petitioning of music companies constitute political behavior? Do thecommunication skills and patterns of action developed in these online activities transfer to suchoffline realms as voting and public protests? Civic Life Online describes the many forms of civiclife online that could predict a generation's political behavior.ContributorsMarina Umaschi Bers,Stephen Coleman, Jennifer Earl, Kirsten Foot, Peter Levine, Kathryn C. Montgomery, KateRaynes-Goldie, Howard Rheingold, Allen Schussman, Luke Walker, Michael XenosW. Lance Bennett isRuddick C. Lawrence Professor of Communication and Professor of Political Science at the Universityof Washington.

W. Lance Bennett is Ruddick C. Lawrence Professor of Communication and Professor of Political Science at the University of Washington.