Toward a Media Literate Model for Civic Engagement in Digital Culture: Exploring the Civic Habits and Dispositions of College Students on Facebook

Youth today live integrated lifestyles. Not only must they negotiate personal and public identities online, but they also must navigate information types now incorporated into single web platforms. As a result, there is an increasing need to understand how youth today see social platforms as serving personal, public, and civic needs. This article utilizes a survey (n = 279) and focus group sessions (n = 71) to explore student dispositions toward Facebook, specifically exploring its perceived value for information gathering, community interaction, relationship maintenance, and civic dialog. The results show a population that increasingly uses social media platforms for all information habits but that sees them as inherently social. Students also reported little to no formal training or education about social media and its role in their lives. The article concludes by proposing a more purpose-driven approach to teaching and learning about social networks as vibrant civic spaces in addition to the social and personal outlets they provide.