Abstract

This study aimed to improve the understanding of how political information consumption through social media and other online platforms related to online political participation. It further investigated the role of political trust and the mediating influence of media credibility. A survey method was used and questionnaires were distributed through social media. The study consisted of two populations namely residents of Jakarta (520) and Islamabad (386). Furthermore, the model analysis used a structural equation model (SEM) with the assistance of the AMOS 24 program. The results showed that the adoption of political information from social media in Jakarta and Islamabad had a significant impact on online political participation both directly and indirectly. However, using political information from social media in Islamabad did not contribute to developing political trust. These results were consistent with publications in Pakistan where journalists and media institutions were expected to be independent and provide more credible information. The study further suggested that Jakarta's online media proprietors (websites/blogs) should improve the quality of political information distribution and only highly credible media channels should increase the political trust of the society. Additionally, the concept of source credibility which provided the basis for understanding the importance of credibility in information communicated through social and online media was confirmed to have an impact on political trust.