Impact of Social Media on Political Participation and Democratic Engagement among Young Adults

Social media has become an important platform for political communication, public discussion, and democratic participation, particularly among young adults. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and X provide opportunities to access political information, express opinions, interact with political representatives, and participate in public campaigns. The increasing use of these platforms has transformed traditional patterns of political engagement and created new forms of digital participation. This article examines the impact of social media on political participation and democratic engagement among young adults through a narrative review of relevant academic literature. It focuses on political awareness, civic engagement, voting behaviour, online political expression, collective action, and the influence of digital information on democratic processes. The review also considers major challenges, including misinformation, political polarization, online harassment, digital inequality, and declining trust in information sources. Existing research suggests that social media can encourage political involvement by reducing communication barriers and providing accessible spaces for public discussion. However, its influence is not always positive, as the quality of political information and the nature of online interactions can affect democratic attitudes and behaviour. The article concludes that social media can strengthen democratic participation when supported by digital literacy, responsible communication, and inclusive political institutions.