Online vs Offline Political Engagement: Analyzing Student Participation in Lahore

This quantitative study investigates the patterns of online and offline political participation among university students in Lahore, Pakistan. A structured survey was conducted across six public and private universities, with 381 valid responses analyzed out of 400 collected. The research explores students’ engagement with political content on social media platforms and their involvement in offline political activities such as voting, rallies, and meetings. Results indicate that while digital platforms are widely used and contribute to increased political awareness, actual participation both online and offline remains limited for many students. The findings highlight that online engagement, although accessible and far-reaching, does not necessarily lead to real-world civic action. Instead, social media appears to complement rather than replace traditional forms of political involvement. The study emphasizes the need to strengthen digital literacy and foster meaningful civic participation through both online and offline channels. Keywords: Social media, political behaviour, political participation, political engagement, civic participation