Digital Political Communication and Youth Political Participation in 2024 Presidential Election

Abstract

Youth political participation has become a major concern in contemporary democracies as elections are increasingly shaped by digitally mediated communication environments. The rapid expansion of social media platforms has transformed how young citizens access political information, engage with campaign content, develop political awareness, and participate in electoral processes. Within this global transformation, Indonesia’s 2024 Presidential Election provides an important case for examining how digital political communication influences youth political participation due to the numerical dominance of Millennial and Generation Z voters in the national electorate. This study investigates the role of social media and interpersonal communication in shaping political participation among young Indonesian voters. Employing a mixed-methods design, the research combines a nationally representative survey of 1,200 respondents across 38 provinces with focus group discussions to explore both quantitative trends and qualitative experiences. The findings reveal near-universal internet connectivity among young voters, with social media functioning as the primary source of political information. Approximately 66 percent of respondents acknowledged that digital political content influenced their presidential preferences, particularly interactive and visually engaging campaign formats. Nevertheless, interpersonal communication through family members, peers, and direct candidate interaction remained significant in reinforcing political trust and validating electoral decisions. Despite low interest in formal political institutions, more than 91 percent of respondents expressed intention to vote, indicating strong electoral participation among Indonesian youth. The study concludes that youth political participation in Indonesia reflects a hybrid model of democratic engagement in which digital political communication facilitates political learning and awareness, while interpersonal communication consolidates electoral commitment.