Role of Social Networking Sites in Civic Engagement of Marginalized Urban Youth of Bangladesh

Abstract

Limited civic engagement of marginalized groups has always been a concern. Social Networking Sites are becoming a great platform for the youth residing in rural areas, to voice their words and become part of change. This study aims to identify the civic activities that they are engaged in, examine the role of social networking sites, and explore the associated challenges faced by the marginalized youth while using social media for civic engagement. The study has been conducted using both quantitative and qualitative approach to validate the findings through triangulation and give more reliable data. Non-probability sampling technique was applied to select participants who fulfilled specific criteria. This study followed ‘Civic Voluntarism Model’ and covered a varied demographic profile that essentially grasped the wider background of the marginalized youth. Community events as the most common civic activity among marginalized youth. Traditional approaches for civic participation often bypass marginalized youth because of their socio-economic isolation. However, the data indicates the positive impact of social networking sites on their civic activities. They show a greater preference to engage with political and civic issues online compared to offline. Lack of internet access, misinformation or fake news, online harassment or bullying, limited knowledge about political issues, censorship, or platform restrictions are some of the common challenges identified by the study. The findings will help reduce the engagement gap by providing actionable insights to policymakers, NGOs, educators and community organizations with information on how to improve civic engagement and empower marginalized youth.