Political Participation, Internet and Youth : How does Internet affect the political participation of young people?

Project Report from the year 2011 in the subject Politics - Didactics, Political Education, grade: 1,0, Humboldt-University of Berlin, language: English, abstract: In the last years, Internet has brought many changes to the relation between citizens and political participation, more precisely how we can interact with enterprises, organizations and, obviously how we can act within the political sphere. Internet was and is a authentic and powerful revolution. Facebook, Twitter, on-line petitions, blogs, newspapers...etc are new channels for the exchange of ideas, opinions and information. Every electoral campaign, any political party and each candidate fights to attract voters and transmit their message. Internet has greater impact every day. Such as we were able to see in Obama's last election which showed us the importance of the union between youth, Internet and political participation. However, what is the real effect of Internet on the mobilization of people? Why should political parties pay attention to the changes happening within Internet? Can those parties mobilize voters through Internet? What is the role of citizens in Internet? Is it increasing or changing political participation? There are many questions yet about the changes that Internet brought in the political participation. In my research proposal I want to analyze exactly the consequences of Internet on youth and their role in signing petitions. Young people pay more attention and time to Internet, they are the principals users and maybe they are the best adapted to the changes brought by Internet.