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The purpose of this research was to use Social Network Sites, such as Twitter and Facebook, to explore students involved with their communities and to promote civil service. The goal was to determine if SNS promote social activism within their communities, if they promote and strengthen social capital, and if they motivate students to become more proactive with social and political issues.
Voting is a fundamental right that every American citizen has and should use to ensure that their voices are heard and respected. Young voters should especially take advantage of the opportunity to be heard. Recently in California, Governor Brown signed a bill into law that will allow 16 and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote when they apply for a California driver’s license or state identification card (Entralgo, 2018). This bill allows lawmakers to address the significant imbalance in registered voters in California. During the 2012 Presidential election, California was ranked near the bottom of all 50 states when it came to the number of eligible voters (Satzman, 2016). This law in California comes at a time when California high school students want to have their voices heard, especially with current events in the White House, the prevalence of school shootings, and the passage of the legalization of marijuana.
Background
In a national survey of over 1,500 people, eight in ten Americans who were online used Facebook. Facebook leads this category of online users compared to other Social Network Sites such as Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, or LinkedIn (Perrin, 2016). On a total population basis of Americans (not including Americans who do not use the internet at all), 68% of all U.S. adults are Facebook users, while 28% use Instagram, 26% use Pinterest, 25% use LinkedIn and 21% use Twitter. However, according to a report by CNN in 201,6 voter turnout dropped to its lowest in nearly two decades. This is the lowest Presidential election since 1996, when roughly 54% of voting-age citizens voted (Wallace, 2016). In today’s world, more people are registering and creating online profiles for Social Network Sites (SNS) while less people are registering to vote in America.
Statistics show that there is low voter turnout for the age group between 18 and 25 years old. Interestingly, statistics also show that this age group are digital natives and receive the majority of their information through Social Network Sites. Entering the 21st century, for our society to be successful, settling for being technologically savvy is insufficient. Society must strive to be more aware of social and political issues and feel the need to vote.
Research Paper
IRB
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Literature Review
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Round 1 & Round 2 Research
My first round of research examined how high school students (ages 17–19) from low‐income families used online social networks for political and social involvement. The main goal of this work was to uncover how the use of technology, especially SNS, can be used to motivate students to become proactive within the communities. My second round of research also examined how high school students just like in the first round. However, the second round focused more on celebrities that students follow instead of just reading random posts or tweets on current issues they would find on their SNS. To find out more click on my Learn More tab above.
Research Presentation
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Research Poster
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