Cristian Vaccari and Augusto Valeriani
- Published in print:
- 2021
- Published Online:
- September 2021
- ISBN:
- 9780190858476
- eISBN:
- 9780190858513
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190858476.003.0004
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics, Democratization
In Western democracies, most social media users are not part of political echo chambers but encounter a mix of views they agree and disagree with. It is mostly users who are heavily involved in ...
More
In Western democracies, most social media users are not part of political echo chambers but encounter a mix of views they agree and disagree with. It is mostly users who are heavily involved in politics and frequently discuss it online who predominantly see content that supports their views. Conversely, accidental exposure to political news on social media is widespread and reaches beyond the types of citizens who are typically more involved in politics. Substantial numbers of social media users are also targeted by electoral mobilization, and these users tend to be more politically involved than average. Different groups of users have distinctive types of political experiences on social media, and there are stark differences between the United States and other countries: American social media users are more likely to be exposed to politically supportive content, to accidentally encounter news, and to be targeted by electoral mobilization on social media.Less
In Western democracies, most social media users are not part of political echo chambers but encounter a mix of views they agree and disagree with. It is mostly users who are heavily involved in politics and frequently discuss it online who predominantly see content that supports their views. Conversely, accidental exposure to political news on social media is widespread and reaches beyond the types of citizens who are typically more involved in politics. Substantial numbers of social media users are also targeted by electoral mobilization, and these users tend to be more politically involved than average. Different groups of users have distinctive types of political experiences on social media, and there are stark differences between the United States and other countries: American social media users are more likely to be exposed to politically supportive content, to accidentally encounter news, and to be targeted by electoral mobilization on social media.
Cristian Vaccari and Augusto Valeriani
- Published in print:
- 2021
- Published Online:
- September 2021
- ISBN:
- 9780190858476
- eISBN:
- 9780190858513
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190858476.001.0001
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics, Democratization
The ways in which citizens experience politics on social media have overall positive implications for political participation and equality in Western democracies. This book investigates the ...
More
The ways in which citizens experience politics on social media have overall positive implications for political participation and equality in Western democracies. This book investigates the relationship between political experiences on social media and institutional political participation based on custom-built post-election surveys on samples representative of Internet users in Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States between 2015 and 2018. On the whole, social media do not constitute echo chambers, as most users see a mixture of political content they agree and disagree with. Social media also facilitate accidental encounters with news and exposure to electoral mobilization among substantial numbers of users. Furthermore, political experiences on social media have relevant implications for participation. Seeing political messages that reinforce one’s viewpoints, accidentally encountering political news, and being targeted by electoral mobilization on social media are all positively associated with participation. Importantly, these political experiences enhance participation, especially among citizens who are less politically involved. Conversely, the participatory benefits of social media do not vary based on users’ ideological preferences and on whether they voted for populist parties. Finally, political institutions matter, as some political experiences on social media are more strongly associated with participation in majoritarian systems and in party-centric systems. While social media may be part of many societal problems, they can contribute to the solution to at least two important democratic ills—citizens’ disconnection from politics and inequalities between those who choose to exercise their voice and those who remain silent.Less
The ways in which citizens experience politics on social media have overall positive implications for political participation and equality in Western democracies. This book investigates the relationship between political experiences on social media and institutional political participation based on custom-built post-election surveys on samples representative of Internet users in Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States between 2015 and 2018. On the whole, social media do not constitute echo chambers, as most users see a mixture of political content they agree and disagree with. Social media also facilitate accidental encounters with news and exposure to electoral mobilization among substantial numbers of users. Furthermore, political experiences on social media have relevant implications for participation. Seeing political messages that reinforce one’s viewpoints, accidentally encountering political news, and being targeted by electoral mobilization on social media are all positively associated with participation. Importantly, these political experiences enhance participation, especially among citizens who are less politically involved. Conversely, the participatory benefits of social media do not vary based on users’ ideological preferences and on whether they voted for populist parties. Finally, political institutions matter, as some political experiences on social media are more strongly associated with participation in majoritarian systems and in party-centric systems. While social media may be part of many societal problems, they can contribute to the solution to at least two important democratic ills—citizens’ disconnection from politics and inequalities between those who choose to exercise their voice and those who remain silent.
Cristian Vaccari and Augusto Valeriani
- Published in print:
- 2021
- Published Online:
- September 2021
- ISBN:
- 9780190858476
- eISBN:
- 9780190858513
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190858476.003.0001
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics, Democratization
To understand the relationship between social media and political participation, the book focuses on politically relevant outcomes of citizens’ use of social media rather than on the technical ...
More
To understand the relationship between social media and political participation, the book focuses on politically relevant outcomes of citizens’ use of social media rather than on the technical affordances of digital platforms or the sheer frequency with which people use them. Encountering political content one agrees with, being accidentally exposed to political news, and being targeted by electoral mobilization can all lead citizens to participate more in politics. This is especially the case among citizens who are less interested in politics and less attentive to a general election campaign. Differences in the kinds of voters who may be mobilized by social media may also affect electoral competition. Political institutions can also shape the relationships between political experiences on social media and participation.Less
To understand the relationship between social media and political participation, the book focuses on politically relevant outcomes of citizens’ use of social media rather than on the technical affordances of digital platforms or the sheer frequency with which people use them. Encountering political content one agrees with, being accidentally exposed to political news, and being targeted by electoral mobilization can all lead citizens to participate more in politics. This is especially the case among citizens who are less interested in politics and less attentive to a general election campaign. Differences in the kinds of voters who may be mobilized by social media may also affect electoral competition. Political institutions can also shape the relationships between political experiences on social media and participation.
