This study attempts to answer the following questions: Is civic engagement a social activity among 18-25-year-old college students? How are opinions regarding civic and political engagement impacted by social settings? How are civic and political engagement atmospheres impacted by social distancing and isolation protocol? In this study, the researcher hypothesized that civic and political engagement are social activities, so they are therefore susceptible to changing social context. Since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted typical social interaction through social distancing and isolation protocol, the researcher hypothesized that it also altered mechanisms of civic and political engagement. Political engagement would be more prevalent among students who participate with others even in pandemic conditions that may otherwise decrease close contact and social interactions. These findings seem to disagree with the literature that suggests young people are supplanting voting with other forms of engagement (Zukin et al., 2006). Rather, the “complexity” denoted in interviews and in reports of engagements on the pre- and post-election surveys suggests that young people are voting as well as dedicating their time to other activities. Voting does seem to be a social activity according to the interviews, poll observations, and the surveys. This is consistent with the literature regarding social norms and group predictors. However, this social aspect of engagement seems to manifest in a wider variety of formats that originally thought. Finally, students continued to engage in the context of the pandemic that surrounded the election in question. It seems that the formats through which students engaged have expanded to maintain the connections that are crucial to civic participation.

The effect that pornography has on demand for sex trafficking has yet to be thoroughy investigated. A confidential survey was constructed and opened exclusively to heterosexual English-speaking men who are currently living in the U.S. and between teh ages of 18 and 25. Results showed that men who have purchased sex are more likely to watch porn more often and for longer durations than men who do not report ever purchasing sex. Results also support that men who have purchased sex consume different kinds of porn than men who report never having purchased sex. Finally, results also suggest that men who have purchased sex are more likely to simultaneously report feelings of guilt and satisfaction after viewing pornography. As a whole, these results demonstrate a difference in porn consumption by men who have a history of purchasing sex.