The Reciprocal Influence of Social Media Use and Online Social Capital on Youth Political Participation in Algeria

In recent years, political participation emerges as a growing concern in developing countries, particularly in Algeria, where digital transformation continuously reshapes civic and political engagement. With the increasing reliance on social media platforms, this study explores the impact of digital social capital and digital citizenship on the political participation of Algerian university professors and academic researchers. The research adopts a quantitative descriptive-analytical approach, employing a structured, close-ended questionnaire administered to a purposive non-probability sample of 300 participants from higher education institutions. Data analysis uses SPSS for descriptive statistics and Smart PLS 4 to conduct Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) in order to examine causal relationships among the study variables. This study aims to generate insights into the symbolic and functional roles of digital networks in fostering civic awareness and engagement, and contributes to a deeper understanding of political behavior in North African academic digital environments.