Political persuasion on social media: tracing direct and indirect effects of news use and social interaction

Diehl, Trevor; Weeks, Brian E; Gil de Zúñiga, Homero

doi:10.1177/1461444815616224

Cited by 181Social Media and PoliticsMedia Influence and PoliticsMedia Studies and Communication

Political persuasion on social media: tracing direct and indirect effects of news use and social interaction

Diehl, Trevor, Weeks, Brian E, Gil de Zúñiga, Homero·2016·New Media & Society

DOI 10.1177/1461444815616224

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Abstract

News use via social media has been linked to pro-democratic political behaviors. However, most people use social media for non-political purposes, like connecting with friends and browsing news feeds. Recent research indicates these behaviors may also have democratic benefits, by means of political expression in social media. Drawing on panel data from a nationally representative sample, this study extends this line of research by exploring how social interaction and news-seeking behaviors on social media lead to diverse networks, exposure to dissenting political opinion, and ultimately reconsidering and changing one’s political views. Social media are a unique communication platform, and their attributes might influence exposure to political information. The tendency for users to build and maintain friend networks creates a potential deliberative space for political persuasion to take place. Consistent with prior literature, news use leads to political persuasion. More interestingly, apolitical, but social interactive uses of social media also lead to political persuasion. These relationships are partially mediated through network and discussion attributes.

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Authors: Diehl, T., Weeks, B. E., & Gil de Zúñiga, H.
Affiliations: University of Vienna (AT)
University of Michigan (US)
University of Vienna, Austria; Universidad Diego Portales, Chile
Corresponding author: Diehl, Trevor
ORCID: Diehl, Trevor
Weeks, Brian E
Venue: New Media & Society
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2016-07-09
Volume: 18
Issue: 9
Pages: 1875-1895
ISSN: 1461-4448 (ISSN-L)
1461-7315
DOI: 10.1177/1461444815616224
OpenAlex: W2332642094
Cited by: 181
References: 67
Citations by year: 2026: 6 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 1
FWCI: 38.42
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations: New Media & Society (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Communication › Social Media and Politics
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Media Influence and Politics
Social Sciences › Communication › Media Studies and Communication
Keywords: political persuasion, social media, news consumption, social interaction, political expression, political socialization, political opinion change, friendship networks, deliberation

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Political persuasion on social media: tracing direct and indirect effects of news use and social interaction

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