ENGAGEMENT

With the introduction of digital technology, “ young people are characterized as technology addicts who have lost the ability to interact in face-to-face settings” (Boulianne & Theocharis 2018) Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat are “the most commonly utilised online platforms among young people” (McCrory, Best & Maddock 2020), this is due to the widespread availability of smartphones, computers and tablets Online platforms allow users to engage with all aspects through editing, distributing and commenting, this promotes engagement with both the platform and other users Furthermore, the role of digital media in the online space allows users to “obtain skills necessary for participating in civic life” (Boulianne & Theocharis 2018) as well as build social networks.