2020/02/16 by Freddie J. Jennings, Valeria P. Suzuki, Alexis Hubbard
Physics and Astronomy · Social Sciences · #Impact of Technology on Adolescents #Opinion Dynamics and Social Influence #Social Media and Politics
paper · doi:10.1080/10570314.2020.1728369
openalex publication_date 2020/02/16 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
A democracy extends beyond partisan politics. The current study examines how a social media video about the environment can spark political deliberation and participation. Drawing from normative democratic theory, an experimental design was employed to test the effect of the video in engaging citizens in the political process and fostering interpersonal conversations, both online and face-to-face. At the core of these normative democratic outcomes is information efficacy, as individuals are moved to discuss the issue and act to protect the environment from the threat of single-use plastics. The results reveal that social media have the potential to have a positive democratic influence.