A Web for all reasons: uses and gratifications of Internet components for political information

The findings indicate that each Internet component satisfies slightly different needs, which can be predicted by some political attitudes and demographics, and Internet experience.

Abstract

This study surveyed politically interested Internet users online during the 2000 presidential election to examine their motives for using Web, bulletin boards/electronic mailing lists and chat forums for political information and to determine whether political attitudes, Internet experience and personal characteristics predict Internet use motivations. The findings indicate that each Internet component satisfies slightly different needs, which can be predicted by some political attitudes and demographics, and Internet experience. Additionally, results from this study are compared to findings from an earlier study of politically interested Web users during the 1996 presidential election.