AU Report is First Study to Map Online Political, Civic Activities of Generation Y Documents Youth Involvement on the Web

3/23/2004

From: Maralee Csellar, 202-885-5952; Barb Gottlieb, 202-885-2082, both of American University

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- An online youth civic culture, largely unnoticed by the general public, has taken root on the Internet and is fostering Generation Y's participation in U.S. politics and community affairs, according to a report released today by American University's Center for Social Media.

"Young people are using the Internet to email legislators, to discuss the impact of current events on their lives, to find where to volunteer, even to do some pretty sophisticated organizing," noted the study's principal author, Kathryn C. Montgomery, professor in AU's School of Communication and co- director of the Center for Social Media. "The Internet is a rich medium, and young people are active participants and creators."

The 155-page report, Youth as E-Citizens, identifies and analyzes almost 400 websites, some created by young people themselves, that engage youth in activities from voter registration and volunteering, to journalism, international collaboration on educational projects, and political activism. The report is available as a searchable PDF report at http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/ecitizens/youthreport.pdf .

Also available, at http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/ecitizens/index.htm, is an online "tour" of seventy-five youth websites that vividly embody this new digital civic landscape.

While youth involvement continues to be more civic than electoral, "we expect that more candidates will try to use the Web to draw young people into the presidential election campaign," Montgomery stated.

The report recommends a number of public and private initiatives that could help ensure a vital youth civic sector in the digital age. These include: further studies to assess how online efforts impact offline civic engagement; incorporation of online content into high school civic education curricula; development of new funding models; and government requirements for "open access" to broadband networks.

"So much of the debate over young people and the media has focused on protecting youth from harm," explained Montgomery. "We want the public and policy makers to know that many young people are making positive contributions to digital media culture. We also hope that this report will challenge the notion that all youth are disengaged from civic and political life."

Youth as E-Citizens received major funding from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE).