Outside the Bubble: Social Media and Political Participation in Western Democracies

Social media has a positive impact on democratic participation, increasing political equality and engagement across Western democracies. It provides citizens with access to a range of political viewpoints, facilitates accidental exposure to political news, and enables political actors to reach voters. Political interactions on social media benefit both engaged and less engaged citizens, and can help address apathy towards politics and inequalities in political participation.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 280 pages
\n Publication date: 09 November 2021
\n Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc
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Over the past decade, there has been extensive debate regarding the impact of social media on democracy. Drawing on an original study of internet users across nine Western democracies, "Outside the Bubble" provides an unprecedented examination of the effects of social media on democratic participation.

In this book, the authors argue that social media indeed enhance political participation, both online and in face-to-face interactions. Moreover, they contend that social media contribute to expanding political equality across Western democracies. Contrary to popular perception, Cristian Vaccari and Augusto Valeriani find that social media do not primarily function as echo chambers or filter bubbles, as most users encounter a mixture of political content that they agree and disagree with.

Various political experiences on social media have positive implications for participation and active political involvement. Social media platforms allow citizens to encounter and engage with distinct political viewpoints, facilitating accidental exposure to political news and enabling political actors and ordinary citizens to reach voters with mobilizing electoral messages. Furthermore, political interactions occurring on social media benefit not only those already engaged but also boost participation among the less engaged. This is because social media offer both additional participatory incentives to the already active and new political opportunities for the less engaged.

By adopting a comparative approach, Vaccari and Valeriani also demonstrate that political institutions play a significant role in shaping the impact of social media on democratic participation. Certain political experiences on social media are more strongly associated with participation in majoritarian systems and party-centric systems. While social media may contribute to various societal problems, they have the potential to address at least two significant democratic challenges: citizens' apathy towards politics and limited political engagement.

In conclusion, "Outside the Bubble" offers valuable insights into the effects of social media on democratic participation. The book demonstrates that social media can enhance political participation, expand political equality, and offer new opportunities for political engagement. By adopting a comparative approach and considering the role of political institutions, the authors contribute to our understanding of the complex relationship between social media and democracy.

\n Weight: 582g\n
Dimension: 187 x 470 x 24 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780190858476\n \n