No computador, na rua ou no smartphone : condicionantes e covariantes do engajamento online

Abstract

In recent decades, there has been talk in a crisis of representative democracy that is expressed in a fall in traditional forms of participation and trust in political institutions, in spite of this, democracy has established itself as the best government setting. Concomitant to this process emerging digital technologies over the internet create cyberspace, presenting a new road to political and social activism. Instigated by this context of political behavior researchers have analyzed which behavioral, social and demographic characteristics influence the cyberactivism questioning whether they are the same that affect the offline activities. Some authors concluded that individuals who already participate are more likely to cyberactivism as well, the network can strengthen the protest modalities. In addition, studies point to the centrality of interest in political issues, access to information, education and in some cases of age in the characterization of digital activists. Therefore, the present research questions which the profile of the Brazilian cyberactivist, asking what are the limitations of online engagement and what is the relationship between the presence and digital modes of participation. Given these objectives and the international literature debates derive two hypotheses: a) social resources (time, money, civic skills), individual motivations, recruitment networks and as social centrality have a positive impact on online political participation; b) there is a convergence between the modalities of presence and digital participation, reflecting a "digital divide" for the engaged become more engaged and disengaged less. To operationalize this debate using the database Latin American Public Opinion - LAPOP the year 2012. The results of descriptive statistical tests indicate to a low percentage of active individuals in cyberspace. Already the multivariate models indicate a convergence between the offline and online modes, as well as to a significant influence of education and political interest in cyber-activism. However, the Brazilian case presents a compelling feature, the online activist is a citizen who feels politically inefficient and demand in cyberspace a place where you can express their demands.