Abstract
This study used Ivory Park and the 2021 local government elections as a case study to argue that research needs to explore youth political participation through digital media platforms. The study has three objectives. First, it examined how the youth used digital media to engage in local government elections. Second explored the youth's perceptions and experiences on public spheres for political engagement. Third, explore youth’s lived experiences on local government elections. Based on the review of literature on youth political engagement through digital spaces, in-depth interviews were conducted with the youth of Ivory Park. Fifteen informants were conveniently sampled between the ages of 18 and 35 and used inducive thematic analysis. Data was also gathered using Facebook observations through various Facebook groups of political parties and local news outlets and used thematic analysis. This helped to explore various online activities the youth engaged with during the local government elections with an understanding that these digital platforms are used as alternative, convenient spaces of political participation amongst the youth of Ivory Park. Analyses of responses demonstrated that the youth in Ivory Park use digital media to engage in local government elections. The participation enabled the youth to set an agenda concerning crucial political, economic and social issues. Although digital spaces enabled the emergence of digital political participation, these spaces possess drawbacks in terms of who can afford to stay connected and participate and who cannot afford to participate. Inequalities around digital and gender were evident in Ivory Park. On the other hand, political participation on digital spaces incited incivility which showed the dark side of digital platforms. It was evident that these uncivil activities interrupted the main agenda of political participation. This study concluded with the argument that digital platforms transformed the political campaigning and mobilisation in the local government elections amongst the youth of Ivory Park. Facebook evoked optimistic political engagement. While growing research has shown that the youth have migrated from traditional media to digital platforms for political participation in South African context, there is a gap in literature on how the youth appropriate digital platforms for political participation in local government elections, in marginalised communities especially township areas.