Social media consumption and social engagement: A study on pg students of Manipur

In an age when social media is fast replacing TV, radio and print, media consumption scenario solely dwells on social media especially for the youths. Social media not only delivers news about friends but also the mainstream journalistic news from the apps one subscribes to. Besides this, its interactive platform facilitates social engagement activities among the adults. Hence media consumption and digestion pattern takes a new dimension. This paper examines the influence of social media consumption on civic engagement especially on youths who are post graduate. Univariate analysis on Social media consumption pattern are categorize into low, medium and high users. Civic engagement activities, online and offline, has covered involvement in activities on community programs, political participation and social issues. Bivariate analysis is conducted between media consumption index and different civic engagement activities. The outcome of the study is that here is no relevance of time devoted in SNS and the degree of their involvement in civic engagement activity. FB users in some way are involved in many community/social related programs and issues. But in many cases, a fair number of them do not participate in it like in the cases of political rallies, public rallies and volunteering services. The study has given a new insight into how social media can promote a democratically desirable attitudes and behaviour for a strong civil society to enable political institutions and authorities accountable in a democratic country.