Abstract
<p>Digital media have become central environments for young people’s political information, opinion formation, and participation. This preregistered scoping review synthesises interdisciplinary research on the relationship between digital media and young people’s political mindset, conceptualised as political knowledge, political orientation, and political participation. It further examines differences across media types, the role of media literacy and educational interventions, and relevant individual and contextual factors. Following the PRISMA framework, 3.808 peer-reviewed articles were identified, of which 105 articles were included in the final analysis. Political participation was examined most frequently, whereas political knowledge and, particularly, political orientation received considerably less attention. The evidence was concentrated on social media, young adults, Western democracies, and quantitative survey designs. Children under 12, emerging technologies (e.g., AI), and non-Western contexts were largely absent. Most reported findings were classified as beneficial for democracy, especially those linking digital media use to political participation. However, this pattern primarily reflects the nature of the conditions examined and should not be interpreted as evidence of causal or inherently positive effects. Although media literacy was frequently presented as important, it was rarely measured directly, and only a few studies empirically evaluated educational interventions. Overall, digital media appear to expand opportunities for young people’s political engagement, but their influence on political knowledge and orientation remains insufficiently understood. Future research should employ longitudinal and experimental designs, include younger and more diverse populations, examine platform-specific mechanisms, and systematically evaluate media literacy interventions.</p>