*Tan Jue Jun, Amira Firdaus

Abstract:

Electronic distribution via inventive information and communication technologies (ICT) led by the Internet is changing receiver patterns and thus raising new questions about existing media dependency relations. Given that Internet and conventional mass media differ significantly in the scope of information provided as well as the distinctive functionalities in fulfilling users’ needs and goals, media dependency on social media is idiosyncratic from the traditional media. This paper revisits the newly emerging digital-individual media system dependency (MSD) to theorise political information dependency within a social media environment. Drawing data from a survey of 379 politically participative net generation Malaysians aged between 18 and 24, the paper initiates a theoretical concept and measure of social media political information dependency (SMPID). SMPID is conceptualised as the extent to which social media is perceived as helpful in fulfilling a range of political informational goals in everyday life.

Keywords: Social media political information dependency, political informational goals, social media, Media System Dependency (MSD), youth