Young people’s use of social media will be the focus of the latest in Robert Gordon University’s (RGU) Making Connections seminar series.
The seminar will explore young people’s use of social media and specifically their use of Twitter for political purposes.
It is based on collaborative research between information scientists Dr Elizabeth Tait and Dr Graeme Baxter from the iSchool, and public policy experts Dr Iain MacLeod and Dr Peter McLaverty from the Dept of Management at RGU’s Aberdeen Business School.
They will reveal findings about first-time voters’ sources of information and key socialisation agents while raising important questions about the role of these agents in engaging young people in an ongoing sense, with votes at 16 now the norm for Scottish Parliament elections.
Professor Dorothy Williams, of RGU’s iSchool and Director of the Making Connections programme, said: “This timely research adds to our understanding of the information practices of young people in relation to political engagement.
“It also raises some important questions for teachers and school librarians in supporting the development of critical awareness and use of information beyond the doors of school and college.”
RGU’s iSchool Making Connections programme focuses on information literacy in school and workplace contexts, as a foundation for lifelong learning, effective problem-solving, decision-making, and resilience in a knowledge society.
The seminar will be held on Tuesday March 29 at 4.30pm in Room N336 at RGU’s Sir Ian Wood Building, Garthdee.
Please email Agnieszka Kruk-Omenzetter (a.kruk-omenzetter@rgu.ac.uk) to book a space.
For more information and examples of our Making Connections programme please visit the RGU website or contact Professor Dorothy Williams, d.williams@rgu.ac.uk.