The influence of online forum and SNS use on online political discussion in China: Assessing “Spirals of Trust”

Mou, Yi; Atkin, David; Fu, Hanlong; Lin, Carolyn A.; Lau, Tuen-Yu

doi:10.1016/j.tele.2013.04.002

Cited by 54 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…In any case, the mechanism that control and affect individual's political opinions in the network exposure has not been fully explored yet. Mou et al (2013) also investigated the influence of SNS use and online political discussion in China. They assess the political activities among Chinese net users to understand the influence of social media in this country in the context of political attitudes and political participation.…”

Section: Political Attitude and Social Network Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining the Impact of Using Social Networks on Political Knowledge and Political Attitude by Iranian University Students

Alami

Adnan

Kotamjani

2019

JKMJC

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Social Network Sites (SNSs) play key role to raise individuals' awareness in terms of political issues around the world. Young generation particularly university students utilize social networks for political activism and discussion. The present study investigates the effect of social network on political knowledge and attitude of Iranian university students. Mixed-method design was employed to collect quantitative data through a questionnaire followed by an emailed interview with Iranian media experts. The sample size in the study consisted of 382 Iranian students and 12 media experts. The findings of the current study showed that there is generally a direct and positive relation between the level of use of social networks and political knowledge, and attitude. Moreover, the results revealed that using social network sites have a significant positive effect on student's level of political knowledge and political knowledge mediates the positive effect of social network use by Iranian university students on their political behavior. The results of interview corroborate that easy access to modern information sources has increased political knowledge of the students. The results also implied the necessity of deploying an intelligent filtering rather than indiscriminate blocking of the social network websites.

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Section: Political Attitude and Social Network Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining the Impact of Using Social Networks on Political Knowledge and Political Attitude by Iranian University Students

Alami

Adnan

Kotamjani

2019

JKMJC

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show abstract

“…With more Internet users engaged in online discussions, a growing number of researchers have argued that there exists a linear relationship between social media use and online political discussion. Due to mass media are strictly controlled by the government in China, the Internet has increasingly become a perfect public sphere for like-minded users to touch on some of politically touchy topics [ 10 ]. Previous research has found that communicating about political topics in the computer-mediated setting complements face-to-face political discussion [ 26 ].…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thanks to its converged technological features, this newly technology provides a more information-rich space where people can conveniently seek and distribute information online, browse the latest political coverage and international breaking news, sustain interpersonal relationships, as well as exchange personal opinions through their interpersonal network ties [ 7 – 9 ]. Additionally, with the economic development in recent years, Chinese citizens are more likely to engage in diverse political activities due to they have more political knowledge as well as enthusiasm for the political process than before [ 10 ]. However, Chinese government’s tight control of the Internet since late 2008 has led to thousands of web sites, both foreign and domestic, were blocked for touching on some politically sensitive topics [ 11 , 12 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is mobile app a new political discussion platform? An empirical study of the effect of WeChat use on college students’ political discussion and political efficacy

Pang

2018

PLoS ONE

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In the last couple of years, the increasing application and popularization of mobile app have dramatically transformed people’s daily political lives through offering innovative mechanisms for interpersonal communication. While a majority of past studies on WeChat have mainly focused on its characteristics, only few documents have unearthed the potential effect of using such emerging social media on facilitating political discussion and increasing political efficacy. Given those, this study adopted uses and gratifications approach to explore the possible relationships between gratifications-sought, the intensity of WeChat usage on mobile phones, online political discussion, and political efficacy among college students in China. An empirical survey with 282 WeChat users reveals that WeChat as a relatively new outlet of political information, which fosters online political discussion with others about government and politics. Contrary to the expectation, the intensity of WeChat usages is not helped to strengthen or enhance individual’s level of internal or external political efficacy. Furthermore, hierarchical regression analyses demonstrate that information needs and recognition needs are positive predictors of internal political efficacy. Overall, these obtained findings may shed more up-to-date insights on the meaningful role of the mobile-based communication technology in promoting citizens’ democratic engagement in a developing country.

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“…Prior studies conducted in Chinese settings provide some empirical support to engaged citizen thesis. They found that political efficacy was positively related to online political discussion (Mou, Atkin, Fu, Lin, & Lau, 2013) and information sharing about political and social issues using SNSs (Li, Lee, & Li, 2016). Zhong (2014) discovered that online bonding and bridging social capital increased Chinese college students' online civic engagement including posting and discussing political issues.…”

Section: Study 1: Predicting General Online Political Expressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dissenting public or engaged citizens? Predictors of general and contentious online political expression in China

Hyun

2016

Global Media and China

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Online political engagement in China has been explained as both conventional and contentious forms of political participation. Depending on the explanations, potentially contradicting factors are assumed to promote online political engagement. To resolve this contradiction, this research distinguished general and contentious online political expression. The analyses of two datasets showed that general online political expression positively related to variables associated with conventional participation, such as personal resources, political interest, efficacy, and satisfaction with personal and China's general economic situations. On the other hand, expression regarding contentious food safety issues was mainly explained by factors related to contentious participation such as support for alternative political ideas (i.e. freedom of expression and giving more voice to citizens) and the perception of injustice. In both datasets, political expression was positively associated with social media use for news. The results from the two studies suggest that different factors may be at work in explaining general and contentious political expression. The potential of the two different types of political expression for political change in China is discussed.

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The influence of online forum and SNS use on online political discussion in China: Assessing “Spirals of Trust”

Cited by 54 publications

References 54 publications

Examining the Impact of Using Social Networks on Political Knowledge and Political Attitude by Iranian University Students

Examining the Impact of Using Social Networks on Political Knowledge and Political Attitude by Iranian University Students

Is mobile app a new political discussion platform? An empirical study of the effect of WeChat use on college students’ political discussion and political efficacy

Dissenting public or engaged citizens? Predictors of general and contentious online political expression in China

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