Can online social networks foster young adults’ civic engagement?

•Online civic engagement is positively related to offline civic engagement.•Individuals with larger social networks tend to have more civic publications.•Frequent online interactions can increase the quantity of information use.•Interactions and concentration on civic issues can foster civic engagement.•Interactions can foster offline civic engagement intentions through two mediators. The current study aims to determine whether Wechat can have positive effects on civic engagement and how young adults can be influenced. This study not only examines the direct associations between the Wechat social network and two types of civic engagement but also analyzes information use in Wechat and group incentives as mediators in the path model. A total of 297 young adults responded to an online survey questionnaire. The results showed that the size of online social networks was related to online civic publication, while interactions in networks exerted a positive influence on online and offline civic engagement via information use and group incentives. Furthermore, two types of civic engagement were found to be associated with each other. The possible reasons for these findings are also discussed.