The Combined Effects of Organizational Engagement and Social ...

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Abstract

This study sheds light on the dynamic relationship between organizational engagement and social media use, with Korean candlelight vigils as the case study. Extensive literature has explored dynamic relationships revolving around organizational engagement, digital technologies, and collective action, yet little research has yet examined how digital technologies, in combination with organizational engagement, influence the dynamics of collective action, more specifically, protest participation. Moving beyond researching the direct influence of social media on organizational change or individual’s participation in protests, this article aims to examine the interaction between social media use and organizational engagement and their combined effects on individual engagement in protests. To document these relationships, this study used survey data collected in South Korea during 2016 candlelight vigils (N = 922). Findings suggest that social media use and organizational engagement exerted a combined/additive effect on individuals’ protest participation. In other words, social media use amplifies the influence of organizational engagement on protest participation. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.