American Economic Review · 2021 · 576 citations · 33 references
Social SciencesCommunicationPolitical ScienceMass CommunicationPublic OpinionSocial InfluenceMedia EffectsNews AudiencesNews MediaPolitical PolarizationPublic Opinion DynamicsSocial MediaMass Media EffectsMedia Effects On Public OpinionNews Consumption PatternsNews Media InfluencePolitical Polarization AnalysisSocial Media News SharingSocial Media News UseSocial Polarization
The study investigates whether consuming ideologically congruent news on social media exacerbates polarization. The authors conduct a large field experiment on Facebook, randomly offering subscriptions to conservative or liberal news outlets and tracking subscriptions, exposure, site visits, sharing, and changes in political attitudes. The experiment finds that exposure shifts the slant of sites visited, reduces negative attitudes toward the opposing party, does not affect political opinions, and that Facebook’s algorithm preferentially supplies same‑side content, suggesting algorithms may increase polarization. JEL codes: C93, D72, L82.
Does the consumption of ideologically congruent news on social media exacerbate polarization? I estimate the effects of social media news exposure by conducting a large field experiment randomly offering participants subscriptions to conservative or liberal news outlets on Facebook. I collect data on the causal chain of media effects: subscriptions to outlets, exposure to news on Facebook, visits to online news sites, and sharing of posts, as well as changes in political opinions and attitudes. Four main findings emerge. First, random variation in exposure to news on social media substantially affects the slant of news sites that individuals visit. Second, exposure to counter-attitudinal news decreases negative attitudes toward the opposing political party. Third, in contrast to the effect on attitudes, I find no evidence that the political leanings of news outlets affect political opinions. Fourth, Facebook’s algorithm is less likely to supply individuals with posts from counter-attitudinal outlets, conditional on individuals subscribing to them. Together, the results suggest that social media algorithms may limit exposure to counter-attitudinal news and thus increase polarization. (JEL C93, D72, L82)
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A multidimensional approach to individual differences in empathy
M. Edward Davis, Mark H. Davis, M. Edward Davis et al. · Medical Entomology and Zoology · 1980 · 4.8K citations