Patterns of Individual Political Communication Among German Youth

In my dissertation, I have investigated patterns of individual political communication (reception of political information, interpersonal political communication and political participation) among German youth. My research deals with the following questions: To what extent do German youth use online media for political communication and political participation? Which patterns of individual political communication can be distinguished? The data were collected in August 2013 through a standardized web survey of 1000 young adults from Germany who were born between 1980 and 1994. The candidates are recruited via an online access panel, and selected using a quota sample based on demographic characteristics of the age group under study. Using cluster analysis, five types of individual political communication were found: Apathetics, Passive Offliners, Slacktivists, Traditional Engaged and Digital Citizens. The user types differ both in their level of political activity and their use of online media for the purpose of political communication.