The Korea Local Administration Review

The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of digital device use on social participation. In particular, this study focuses more on the mediating effect of the perception of injustices in the relationship between the utility of using digital devices and the degree of social participation. For the empirical analysis, this study employs the 2020 Seoul Survey and structural equation model. According to the result, people who share more information through digital devices tend to perceive more unfair our society. And, this tendency makes them more active in social participation. In addition, people with expanded communication and networks through digital devices are more likely to be more active in social participation. This effect, however, is somewhat offset by the mediating effect of the perception of injustices. These results will provide new insights into theoretical and practical approaches that focus on the role of digital devices as a driver of social participation.