2023/06/07 by Daria Kuznetsova, Caroline J. Tolbert · 4 citations
Social Sciences · #Censorship #Digital media #Electoral Systems and Political Participation #Freedom of the press #Internet users #Law #Media Influence and Politics #Misinformation #Political communication #Political science #Politics #Proxy (statistics) #Public relations #Social Media and Politics #Social media #Sociology #The Internet
paper · pdf · doi:10.1111/ssqu.13287
published in Social Science Quarterly 104(4), 505-520 (Wiley)
openalex publication_date 2023/06/07 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25
Abstract Objectives This study is one of the first to systematically evaluate the relationship between the Internet and social media use and participation in politics cross‐nationally, in democracies and non‐democracies. Most existing research on this topic analyzes one country or region. We contend that access to globalizing information networks—which exist within digital media space and where discussions of political norms and values are frequent—promotes higher rates of political participation. Methods Using multivariate analysis and individual‐level data from the seventh wave of the World Values Survey with representative samples from 45 countries, we employ jackknifed samples to investigate the association between self‐reported frequent Internet and social media use, our proxy for the exposure to globalizing information networks, and political participation. Results Results show that more frequent social media use is associated with higher political participation, all else equal. This relationship is significant in democracies and non‐democracies, suggesting that information networks increase political participation even in countries with Internet shutdowns, censorship, and limited rights and freedoms. Conclusions Despite censorship, propaganda, and misinformation, the Internet and social media may help foster political participation across international borders.