Social Connectedness and Civic Participation among Generation Z in the Era of Digital Transformation

Abstract

Digital transformation has fundamentally reshaped the ways young people establish social relationships and participate in civic activities. This study aims to examine the influence of social connectedness on civic participation among Generation Z within the context of an increasingly digital society. A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed using survey data collected from 421 university students representing Generation Z. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling to evaluate both the measurement and structural models. The findings reveal that social connectedness has a strong and statistically significant positive effect on civic participation, indicating that interpersonal trust, community belonging, social support, and meaningful digital interactions enhance young people's engagement in community initiatives, volunteering, civic awareness, and collective action. The proposed model explains a substantial proportion of the variance in civic participation, highlighting the importance of social relationships in digitally mediated environments. The novelty of this study lies in integrating digital transformation and social connectedness into a comprehensive framework for explaining civic participation among Generation Z. The findings contribute to the development of social capital literature while offering practical implications for higher education institutions, community organizations, and policymakers seeking to strengthen youth civic engagement through inclusive and collaborative digital ecosystems.