Young people's media use and social participation in Hong Kong: A perspective of digital use divide

In Hong Kong, the digital divide scenario has changed with the introduction of digital and mobile technologies. With most young people having gained access to the internet, this chapter looks into the ways in which they incorporate the internet into their everyday civic lives. It explores the shift from a ‘digital divide’ towards a ‘digital use divide’ that responds to high levels of basic access to internet services. The chapter introduces the findings of focus group studies of college students, exploring their media use and social participation. It was found that compared with the older generation, the young people in Hong Kong who were well equipped with media and information literacy (MIL) were able to strategically use the media to express themselves and participate in various social events, including the demonstrations of the Umbrella Movement. How much time they spend on media is not the most important factor. Instead, the goal-oriented use of media and the strategic use of media matter more. The sociopolitical context was also found to be a contributing factor in developing young people’s MIL skills and purposes of usage.