This study examines if Facebook, one of the most popular social network sites among college students in U.S., is related to attitudes and behaviors that enhance individuals' capital. Using data from a random web survey across Texas (n = 2,603), we find positive relationships between intensity Facebook use students' life satisfaction, trust, civic engagement, political participation. While these findings should ease concerns those who fear has mostly negative effects on young adults,...

Recently, scholars tested how digital media use for informational purposes similarly contributes to foster democratic processes and the creation of social capital. Nevertheless, in context today's socially-networked-society rise applications (i.e., Facebook) new perspectives need be considered. Based on U.S. national data, results show that after controlling demographic variables, traditional offline online, political constructs (knowledge efficacy), frequency size discussion networks,...

A Web survey of 1,715 college students was conducted to examine Facebook Groups users' gratifications and the relationship between their political civic participation offline. factor analysis revealed four primary needs for participating in groups within Facebook: socializing, entertainment, self-status seeking, information. These vary depending on user demographics such as gender, hometown, year school. The indicated that, predicted, informational uses were more correlated action than...

Recent studies have shown a positive link between frequency of social media use and political participation. However, there has been no clear elaboration how using translates into increased activity. The current study examines three explanations for this relationship in the context citizens’ protest behavior: information (social as source news), opinion expression (using to express opinions), activism (joining causes finding mobilizing through media). To test these relationships, uses survey...

Journal Article The Social Media Basis of Youth Protest Behavior: Case Chile Get access Sebastián Valenzuela, Valenzuela 1School Communications, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Arturo Arriagada, Arriagada 2School Journalism, Diego Portales, Andrés Scherman Communication, Volume 62, Issue 2, April 2012, Pages 299–314, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.2012.01635.x Published: 28 February 2012

Empirical studies of citizen communication networks and participation go as far back the 1940s, with a bolder focus in political—not civic—activities. A consistent finding reveals that individuals larger are more engaged than those smaller networks. This article expands this line work number novel tests. First, it compares predictive power online versus offline network size on civic engagement. It then explores role strong-tie weak-tie discussion frequency participatory behaviors. Finally,...

The mechanisms by which users of platforms such as Facebook and Twitter spread misinformation are not well understood. In this study, we argue that the effects informational uses social media on political participation inextricable from its sharing. That is, engagement is both a major consequence using for news key antecedent sharing misinformation. We test our expectations via two-wave panel survey online in Chile, country experiencing information disorders comparable to those global North....

Journal Article Social Networks that Matter: Exploring the Role of Political Discussion for Online Participation Get access Sebastián Valenzuela, Valenzuela 1School Communications, Catholic University Chile, Santiago, and 2School Journalism, Texas at Austin, USA (PhD, Austin) is an assistant professor in School Communications Chile. His research focuses on political communication, public opinion, digital technologies media effects. Search other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google...

We hypothesize that generic frames influence what news people share on Facebook and Twitter through three different routes: emotions, motivations, psychological engagement. Using a mixed-methods design, content analysis of representative sample articles published in six Chilean outlets was combined with in-depth interviews digital journalists. After controlling for issue, newsworthiness, informational utility, valence, other confounds, results show that—across platforms—a morality frame...

Based on the theoretical concepts of social networks and technology affordances, this article argues that different media platforms influence political participation through unique, yet complementary, routes. More specifically, it proposes Facebook Twitter are conducive to protest behavior two distinct mechanisms: whereas use is more effective communication with strong-tie networks, impact weak-tie networks. To test these expectations, we analyze data from a cross-sectional, face-to-face...

This study advances a theoretical model centered on collective and internal efficacy to explain the separate pathways through which political sharing Facebook Twitter may influence individuals engage in activities. We test with data from 2-wave panel survey conducted an adult population 2013 Chile. found that frequent usage of for information is conducive higher levels participation different measures. has significant effect collective—not internal—efficacy, whereas Twitter's internal—not...

The contribution of professional journalism to democratic citizenship is well-established, but the proliferation online user-generated news begs question whether citizen plays a similar role. Use and trust both were investigated for their associations with political knowledge participation. User-generated was negatively related national figures, strongly positively associated higher levels offline participation; media produced gains in Trust amplified link between

In the past 2 decades, cable television and Internet have greatly increased availability of media content. The phenomenon has reinvigorated a longstanding debate about effects this landscape, as people selectively get exposed to specific Based on U.S. national survey data, article advances research in area by analyzing interplay between individuals' ideological predispositions, their selective exposure news, relationship attitudes toward an issue with key policy-making implications: Mexican...

In 2011, Chile experienced two massive protest movements – one against the cost and quality of public education another construction power plants in Patagonia. This represented a unique opportunity to analyse compare how Facebook Twitter use were related street demonstrations. Using probabilistic face-to-face survey among urban youth (18–29 years old) conducted shortly after protests, this study revealed positive relationship between social media participation both movements, even...

This study examines the articulation of public opinion about so-called fake news using a national survey (N = 510) U.S. adults conducted in 2018. We coded respondents' open-ended answers what is "fake news" and found that while some respondents adopted politically neutral, descriptive definition, others provided partisan, accusatory answer. Specifically, weaponization was evident way used term to blame adversarial political media targets. Perceptions prevalence, partisanship strength,...

Intermedia agenda setting predicts a high degree of convergence between news media agendas. However, the rise social forces re-examination this expectation. Using 8.8-earthquake February 27, 2010 in Chile as case study, article compares which topics were covered by professional journalists on broadcast and Twitter, analyzing both cross-sectional longitudinal trends. A positive, reinforcing influence was found among journalistic agendas TV Twitter. counter to idea that are echo chambers...

Mobile instant messaging services (MIMs) are important gateways to news exposure and political conversations. Nevertheless, we still know little about the specific uses consequences of using apps on other aspects democratic citizenship. This is especially true in Latin American countries, where usage MIMs more widespread than any social media. Using a two-wave panel survey conducted context 2017 Chilean elections, this study examines information sharing practices WhatsApp users, comparing...

The article analyzes the nature of communication flows during social conflicts via digital platform Twitter. We gathered over 150,000 tweets from citizen protests for nine environmental movements in Chile and used a mixed methods approach to show that long-standing paradigms mobilization participation are neither replicated nor replaced but reshaped. In platforms, theories, like 1955 two-step flow model, still valid, while direct one-step more complex network also present. For example, we it...

Scholars have advanced many theoretical explanations for expecting a negative or positive relationship between individuals' cross-cutting exposure—either through interpersonal mediated forms of communication—and their political participation. However, whether exposure is predictor participation still an unsettled question. To help fill this gap, we conducted meta-analysis 48 empirical studies comprising more than 70,000 participants examining the association and The produced two main...

Repeated exposure to misinformation not only reduces the accuracy of people’s beliefs, but it also decreases confidence in institutions such as news media. Can fact-checking—journalism’s main weapon against misinformation—worsen or ameliorate distrust journalists and media? To answer this question, we conducted two pre-registered experiments Chile (total N = 1,472) manipulating message receiver factors known regulate persuasiveness fact-checks: transparency elements, arousing images,...