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 ...
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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.
Nils B. Weidmann and Espen Geelmuyden Rød
- Published in print:
- 2019
- Published Online:
- September 2019
- ISBN:
- 9780190918309
- eISBN:
- 9780190918347
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190918309.003.0003
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics, Democratization
The chapter proposes a refined theoretical approach to distinguish the conditions under which digital technology fosters the emergence of protest, and under which it suppresses it. At the core of ...
More
The chapter proposes a refined theoretical approach to distinguish the conditions under which digital technology fosters the emergence of protest, and under which it suppresses it. At the core of this theory is the observation that control of the Internet is asymmetrical, where governments decide when and where to introduce and expand this technology in their countries. Facing economic pressure to innovate, governments will try to minimize political risks using the Internet to improve governance, but also to censor content and improve surveillance. Hence, increasing Internet penetration should be related to reduced protest occurrence in the long run. Once protest has broken out, however, it is difficult to quickly contain the spread of ongoing dissent through online channels, which is why the Internet may foster the persistence and diffusion of protest. The chapter also highlights that the effect of digital communication on protest has to be considered in conjunction with traditional means of repression that continue to be available to autocratic governments.Less
The chapter proposes a refined theoretical approach to distinguish the conditions under which digital technology fosters the emergence of protest, and under which it suppresses it. At the core of this theory is the observation that control of the Internet is asymmetrical, where governments decide when and where to introduce and expand this technology in their countries. Facing economic pressure to innovate, governments will try to minimize political risks using the Internet to improve governance, but also to censor content and improve surveillance. Hence, increasing Internet penetration should be related to reduced protest occurrence in the long run. Once protest has broken out, however, it is difficult to quickly contain the spread of ongoing dissent through online channels, which is why the Internet may foster the persistence and diffusion of protest. The chapter also highlights that the effect of digital communication on protest has to be considered in conjunction with traditional means of repression that continue to be available to autocratic governments.
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.
