Graduation Year

2024

Document Type

Open Access Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Politics and International Relations

Reader 1

Professor Vanessa Tyson

Reader 2

Professor Susan McWilliams

Terms of Use & License Information

Terms of Use for work posted in Scholarship@Claremont.

Rights Information

© 2024 Paloma M Ayala-Abellar

Abstract

Social media has become an integral part of daily life, particularly among Generation Z, transforming the way individuals engage with political movements and activism. This study explores how political social media usage influences feelings of self-efficacy and physical political participation among Generation Z in Los Angeles County. Leveraging survey data from 126 participants, the research examines the role of social media platforms—Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter/X—in fostering self-efficacy and mobilizing individuals to engage physically with social movements. Findings reveal that frequent engagement with political content on social media, such as liking, sharing, and following, enhances feelings of self-efficacy, empowering users to participate in protests, rallies, and meetings. Notably, Instagram and TikTok emerged as the most effective platforms for bolstering self-efficacy and physical participation, while Facebook users demonstrated lower levels of engagement and a preference for online-only activism. Gender and race also influenced levels of self-efficacy and participation, with women reporting higher engagement rates and Black participants exhibiting the strongest self-efficacy measures. Despite critiques of "slacktivism," the study highlights the mobilizing potential of social media, demonstrating that even those motivated by virtue signaling often participate physically in movements. These findings emphasize the importance of treating social media platforms as distinct entities and underscore their value as tools for building self-efficacy and driving real-world activism. This research contributes to the understanding of Generation Z’s political engagement, offering insights for organizers aiming to effectively mobilize youth through digital platforms.

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