Digital Media And The Transformation Of Public Participation

Abstract

Digital media has transformed communication and created new opportunities for civic engagement and public participation. This study aimed to assess digital media usage, information sharing and awareness, public participation, and the perceived impact of digital media among adults, examine the relationship between digital media-related domains and public participation, and identify the predictors of public participation. A quantitative cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among 80 adults using convenience sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire comprising demographic items and 20 Likert-scale questions. Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression analyses were performed. The findings indicated generally positive perceptions across all study domains, with the perceived impact of digital media recording the highest mean score. No significant differences were observed according to gender or educational qualification. Significant positive correlations were found between digital media usage, information sharing and awareness, perceived impact of digital media, and public participation. Regression analysis further demonstrated that these variables significantly predicted public participation, with perceived impact of digital media emerging as the strongest predictor. The findings suggest that digital media plays an important role in enhancing civic engagement by facilitating communication, increasing awareness, and encouraging community participation. Strengthening digital literacy and implementing citizen-centered digital engagement strategies may further promote meaningful public participation and support participatory governance.