The impact of the Internet on political attitudes in Kuwait and Egypt

This study reports the responses of 445 university students, 242 (54%) from Egypt and 203 (46%) from Kuwait, to a questionnaire exploring the influence of the length of time a person spends on the Internet, their reasons for using the Internet and the use of Internet applications on political efficacy, engagement and knowledge. Data were collected before the political unrest in Egypt took place. The study finds that Internet use for the reason of self-expression has a negative impact on political efficacy. The use of Facebook, Twitter and blogs as Internet applications, together with Internet use for information, positively predict political engagement. The discussion presented relates the results to the political upheavals currently transforming the Arab world and its politics.

► We use the media gratifications theory to explore the impact of Internet on political attitudes.
► We conduct the study in Kuwait and Egypt.
► Internet use for self-expression has a negative impact on political efficacy.
► The use of social media and Internet use for information positively predict political engagement.
► Internet use has a relationship with the revolutionary movement that has recently occurred in Egypt.