This book explores young people's civic experiences in contemporary American society, and how they navigate the political world in an era defined by digital media. Drawing on the experiences of young people before they have reached voting age, the book provides vital perspectives on citizenship and civic engagement of a part of the population that is often overlooked. The author engages with the tensions young people encounter in their everyday personal and civic lives, particularly in their understanding and experience of civic identity in ways that are shaped by society's (mis)perceptions of youth. The book introduces a new framework of civic identity that has been directly informed by the lived civic experiences of young people themselves. The findings will be of great interest to researchers and students working in political science, sociology, youth studies, education studies, and media studies, as well as policy-makers, practitioners, and parents of young people.

Focuses on experiences of young people living in the US at a unique time in the nation's democratic history Highlights the changing nature of youth civic and political engagement Provides a call to action for parents, educators, and policymakers to reinvigorate civic education for the digital age

Autorentext

Julianne K. Viola is a social scientist investigating youth political engagement in a contemporary society characterised by technology use. She has written for The Conversation and has appeared on the BBC World Service. She holds a bachelor s degree from Cornell University, a master s degree from Harvard University, and a doctorate from the University of Oxford.

Klappentext

This book explores young people s civic experiences in contemporary American society, and how they navigate the political world in an era defined by digital media. Drawing on the experiences of young people before they have reached voting age, the book provides vital perspectives on citizenship and civic engagement of a part of the population that is often overlooked. The author engages with the tensions young people encounter in their everyday personal and civic lives, particularly in their understanding and experience of civic identity in ways that are shaped by society s (mis)perceptions of youth. The book introduces a new framework of civic identity that has been directly informed by the lived civic experiences of young people themselves. The findings will be of great interest to researchers and students working in political science, sociology, youth studies, education studies, and media studies, as well as policy-makers, practitioners, and parents of young people.

Inhalt
1 Introduction: The Need to Investigate the Civic Experiences of American Young People.- 2 Where Technology, Youth, and Civics Meet: A Springboard for Understanding Civic Identity.- 3 Findings: Presentations of the Adolescent Self in Contemporary Society.- 4 Findings: Civic Identity.- 5 Findings: Engaging in the Political World.- 6 Discussion and Conclusion: Youth Voice in Contemporary Society.- Appendices.