Abstract

A large number of citizens in Central Asian societies have recently gained access to the Internet, which provides an excellent opportunity for examining political consequences of the spread of digital technology in non-democracies. This article analyzes the relationship between youth media consumption and confidence in the electoral process in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. This study finds that exposure to web-based news produces a significant negative impact on youth’s confidence in electoral institutions in Kazakhstan, while online news consumption is weakly associated with young people’s confidence in the integrity of the electoral process in Kyrgyzstan. These findings suggest that the impact of online media might be stronger in political regimes with lower levels of press freedom.

pdf

Share