Study: People feel politically empowered by internet
by kos
Thu Dec 08, 2005 at 10:41:26 AM PDT
A new study (PDF) by the USC Annenberg School shows that people feel increasingly empowered by the internet:
In 2005, 39.8 percent of Internet users agree that going online can give people more political power -- up from 27.3 percent in the previous study. And, 61.7 percent of respondents -- Internet users and non-users alike -- now agree that going online has become important to political campaigns.
"We are now seeing tangible evidence of the increasing role of the Internet in political decision-making," said Jeffrey I. Cole, director of the USC Annenberg School Center for the Digital Future. "The Internet's growing role in political decision-making cannot be underestimated.
"More than three-quarters of users who went online for political campaign information sought insight regarding issues and candidates about which they were undecided," Cole said. "Clearly, the Internet's role in the American political process will continue to grow, and it could have a significant impact during the Congressional elections of 2006."
http://www.dailykos.com/http://www.digitalcenter.org/pdf/Center-for-the-Digital-Future-2005-Highlights.pdf