Section Article

Social Media Political Participation and the Reconfiguration of Democratic Citizenship among Indian Youth
Author(s): Dr. Saanvi Gupta

Abstract
The rapid expansion of social media has transformed the ways in which young citizens encounter political information express opinions mobilise around public issues and participate in democratic processes. In India platforms such as WhatsApp Instagram YouTube Facebook and X have become important spaces for political communication and civic interaction. This study examines how social media is reshaping political participation and democratic citizenship among Indian youth. Drawing upon secondary data scholarly literature and recent empirical studies the paper analyses online political expression information consumption digital mobilisation political discussion and civic engagement. The study argues that social media has expanded opportunities for political participation by lowering communication barriers and enabling young people to engage directly with political debates. However these opportunities are accompanied by misinformation polarisation unequal digital capabilities algorithmic visibility online harassment and participation gaps. The study concludes that social media is neither inherently democratising nor inherently destructive its democratic impact depends upon digital literacy political awareness institutional trust and responsible civic engagement.