1. The Internet - Political Turn-On or Turn-off?
John Curtice
Strathclyde University/
National Centre for Social Research

2. The Project
Modules on British Social Attitudes 2003 and 2005; plus previous info from 2000
Examine relationship between internet use and (1) political engagement, (2) social capital
Main N=3297 (2003); 3167 (2005)
2005 module fielded after general election

3. The Structure
Has access to the internet helped to increase the political engagement of individual voters?
What role did the internet play in the dissemination of information in the 2005 election?

4. A turned on voter…
…trusts politicians & government
…participates in politics

5. Why might internet turn people on?
Greater transparency and availability of information
Lower cost - do it from home
Lower cost - easier to organise
Easier to find fellow adherents

6. The Problem
If at one point in time internet users are more trusting and/or active…
…is that because they use the internet
or, because they were more trusting and/or active in the first place?

7. Trust by Length of Use

8. System Efficacy by Use

9. Personal Efficacy by Use

10. MPs lose touch

11. Politics too complicated

12. Interest in Politics

13. Interest in Politics

14. Political Participation

15. Gone on demo

16. Contacted MP

17. Conclusion
(Already) politically active were early internet adopters and use it as one way of pursuing their interest
But internet does not (substantially) increase how many people are politically ‘engaged’

18. But does this miss the point?
Argument assumes that internet only has a direct impact
website -> user
Possibility of two-step flow.
website -> user -> others
Fragmentation means two-step flows now only way any medium has an impact?

19. Acquiring information

20. The Usual Suspects? Traditional Digital Men √ Educated Strong ID
Interested in Politics
√ √

21. Election Talk

22. Who Talks Most? Interested in Politics 68.38 Age - (younger) 55.04
Education (more)
34.35
Strong party id
8.99
Female
5.74

23. Do Digital Users Talk?
Traditional User
224.24
Digital User
36.16

24. Conclusion
Still the case that few people use the internet to find out about politics
Those that do are mostly the usual suspects
Nevertheless digital users are particularly talkative - and so add a little more to the two-step flow of information