Media addiction and political pariticpation

Abstract

Grounded in above written theoretical frameworks, this exploratory study seeks to expand previous research by addressing the main research hypothesis that increase in media addiction causes decrease in political participation. Further research hypotheses are that the bigger media addicts are people who have less confidence in future, who fear about present and future, who are not interested in politics, who have lower political knowledge, and who have lower participation in elections. In this research, these hypotheses are addressed by adequate research questions. Main research question of this study concerns relation of media addiction and political participation. Establishing this relation is goal of this study because of higher infiltration of media into people lives and appearance of new media, use of the Internet on the go, and new technology. This study examines possible dangers of new technology – media addiction and decline of political participation. If people use extensively media, they might not have time for voting or participating in activities of common interest. The next questions examine significant relations of media addiction and elements of political participation with main aim to determine if increases in media addiction cause decreases in political participation. Political participation may be basic pillar of democracy and lack of interest toward “common interest” participative activities may be dangerous for societies.