Social Media as a New Public Sphere: Young People’s Experiences of Political Participation

Abstract

This study aims to examine the political interactions of university students aged 18–24 on social media and reveal how digital platforms function within the context of Habermas' concept of the public sphere. Conducted using a qualitative research approach, the data obtained from in-depth interviews were analysed thematically using MAXQDA software. The findings show that despite young people's high access to political content on social media, they find it difficult to express their views openly due to factors such as distrust of political actors, polarisation, lynch culture, perceived legal risks, peer pressure, and algorithmic visibility. This situation reveals that Habermas' ideal model of the public sphere, with its conditions for rational discussion and free expression, is not fully realised in the digital environment. For young people who develop strategies such as multi-source verification, fact-checking sites, and consulting official accounts to overcome information pollution on social media, humorous, short, and informative content plays a role in increasing their political awareness and motivation to participate. Overall, the study demonstrates that social media constitutes a contradictory digital public sphere for young people, offering opportunities for participation while simultaneously reinforcing self-censorship.