Feng, Patrick Shiao TsongRontynen, Christina Irene Paula2017-12-182017-12-182011Rontynen, C. I. (2011). Social media's influence on political engagement: examining the use of facebook and twitter in Alberta (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/4140http://hdl.handle.net/1880/105141Bibliography: p. 153-159A few pages are in colour.Includes copy of ethics approval. Original copy with original Partial Copyright Licence.This thesis explores social media, particularly Facebook and Twitter, and its ability to effectively engage individuals in political conversations online. The broad goal is to examine online conversations to find out if they can transform online participants from private individuals to public, politically engaged citizens. Two case studies were chosen from the province of Alberta: Bill 44 and Bill 50. Both pieces of legislation were discussed in depth online, and produced two different attitudes and outcomes. The case study of Bill 50 showed that a top down orchestrated conversation online does not cultivate feelings of political engagement. The Bill 44 case study showed that grassroots conversations can facilitate perceptions of political engagement. Through the analysis of online content from Facebook and Twitter and through focus groups five themes developed: membership, frequency and relevance in postings, connections to more traditional communication mediums and encouragement for offline participation. These themes are characteristics that are central to political engagement. When these characteristics are present in an online conversation a private individual can become engaged and passionate about a political issue. This thesis gives concrete examples to back up literature surrounding electronic democracy and the online public sphere. The mass use of social media has given society a space to gather and discuss the issues they use to in the physical public sphere. The public is being given the option to participate in ways they could not before. This research provides insight on how Albertans used Facebook and Twitter to engage in online political conversations and how social media could be harnessed to further engage citizens in an online public sphere.169 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm.engUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.master thesishttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/4140