Abstract:

It is accepted that we live in an age of information. Just as the industrial revolution enabled the establishment of the industrial society in the 19th century, technological revolutions that took place in the 20th century have led to the establishment of the information society. As a result, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have surrounded us, creating an information and communication network that influences the daily lives and even the thought processes of individuals. ICTs have been embedded in education, economy, politics, and daily life – resulting in a re-structuring of both individual and social experiences.

A novel aspect of the influence of ICTs has been their integration in the field of education. The concept of learning has transformed in accordance with the opportunities offered by ICTs. One aspect of this influence that may be overlooked is the repercussions of ICT use beyond the classroom. By manipulating the way we think, ICTs have also been able to carry learning and the application of that which has been learned beyond the classroom and into extracurricular activities. One such example of this would be the participation of students in democratic processes through the Internet. A general definition for democratic participation would be the participation of citizens in a public forum regarding issues both personal and societal. The Internet, which provides a platform for free-flowing information, carries the qualities required for a democratic participation medium. Through these qualities and the opportunities they provide, this study aims to analyze the degree to which the education provided to undergraduate students in a communication faculty influences their extracurricular democratic participation on the Internet. In this regard, various conclusions can be drawn regarding extracurricular ICT use, informal applications of formal education, and how the Internet provides a practical platform in which students may apply their knowledge. To analyze the level of democratic participation, a theoretical approach utilizing the uses and gratifications theory will be applied to the data gathered.

Keywords:

ICT, Internet, democracy, democratic participation, public domain, undergraduate education.