Social Media, News Consumption, and Polarization: Evidence from a Field Experiment

American Economic Review, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 111(3), P. 831 - 870

Published: Feb. 25, 2021

Does the consumption of ideologically congruent news on social media exacerbate polarization? I estimate effects exposure by conducting a large field experiment randomly offering participants subscriptions to conservative or liberal outlets Facebook. collect data causal chain effects: outlets, Facebook, visits online sites, and sharing posts, as well changes in political opinions attitudes. Four main findings emerge. First, random variation substantially affects slant sites that individuals visit. Second, counter-attitudinal decreases negative attitudes toward opposing party. Third, contrast effect attitudes, find no evidence leanings affect opinions. Fourth, Facebook’s algorithm is less likely supply with posts from conditional subscribing them. Together, results suggest algorithms may limit thus increase polarization. (JEL C93, D72, L82)

Language: Английский

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The Political Economy of Populism

Journal of Economic Literature, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 60(3), P. 753 - 832

Published: Sept. 1, 2022

We synthesize the literature on recent rise of populism. First, we discuss definitions and present descriptive evidence increase in support for populists. Second, cover historical evolution populist regimes since late nineteenth century. Third, role secular economic factors related to cross-border trade automation. Fourth, review studies 2008–09 global financial crisis subsequent austerity, connect them work covering Great Depression, likely mechanisms. Fifth, identity politics, trust, cultural backlash. Sixth, consequences growth immigration refugee crisis. also gap between perceptions reality regarding immigration. Seventh, impact internet social media. Eighth, implications populism’s rise. conclude outlining avenues further research. (JEL D72, E32, G01, J15, N30, N40, Z13)

Language: Английский

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Social Media and Mental Health

American Economic Review, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 112(11), P. 3660 - 3693

Published: Oct. 26, 2022

We provide quasi-experimental estimates of the impact social media on mental health by leveraging a unique natural experiment: staggered introduction Facebook across US colleges. Our analysis couples data student around years Facebook’s expansion with generalized difference-in-differences empirical strategy. find that rollout at college had negative health. It also increased likelihood which students reported experiencing impairments to academic performance due poor Additional evidence mechanisms suggests results are fostering unfavorable comparisons. (JEL D91, I12, I23, L82)

Language: Английский

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Why Does China Allow Freer Social Media? Protests versus Surveillance and Propaganda

The Journal of Economic Perspectives, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 31(1), P. 117 - 140

Published: Jan. 30, 2017

In this paper, we document basic facts regarding public debates about controversial political issues on Chinese social media. Our documentation is based a dataset of 13.2 billion blog posts published Sina Weibo—the most prominent microblogging platform—during the 2009–2013 period. primary finding that shockingly large number highly sensitive topics were and circulated For instance, find millions discussing protests, these are informative in predicting occurrence specific events. We an even larger with explicit corruption allegations, predict future charges individuals. findings challenge popular view authoritarian regime would relentlessly censor or ban Instead, interaction government media seems more complex.

Language: Английский

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Identity Politics and Populism in Europe

Annual Review of Political Science, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 23(1), P. 421 - 439

Published: Feb. 28, 2020

We review the literature on rise of identity politics and populism in Europe. Populist parties have gained large vote shares since Great Recession 2008. observe many countries, even European Parliament, a transformation main dimension from left–right cleavage to new opposing mainstream populist parties. examine how this relates changes voter attitudes adjustment political these changes. Two types causes for emerged: economic cultural. In reviewing evidence, we find complex interaction between cultural factors. Economic anxiety among groups voters related austerity policies triggers heightened receptivity messages backlash

Language: Английский

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From Hashtag to Hate Crime: Twitter and Antiminority Sentiment

American Economic Journal Applied Economics, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 15(3), P. 270 - 312

Published: June 28, 2023

We study whether social media can amplify antiminority sentiment with a focus on Donald Trump’s political rise. Using an instrumental variable strategy based Twitter’s early adopters at the South by Southwest festival in 2007, we find that higher Twitter use county is associated sizeable increase anti-Muslim hate crimes after 2016 presidential primaries. tweets about Muslims predict increases xenophobic his followers, cable news mentions of Muslims, and following days. These results suggest content affect real-life out-comes. (JEL D72, J15, K42, L82, Z12)

Language: Английский

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More human than human: measuring ChatGPT political bias

Public Choice, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 198(1-2), P. 3 - 23

Published: Aug. 17, 2023

Abstract We investigate the political bias of a large language model (LLM), ChatGPT, which has become popular for retrieving factual information and generating content. Although ChatGPT assures that it is impartial, literature suggests LLMs exhibit involving race, gender, religion, orientation. Political in can have adverse electoral consequences similar to from traditional social media. Moreover, be harder detect eradicate than gender or racial bias. propose novel empirical design infer whether biases by requesting impersonate someone given side spectrum comparing these answers with its default. also dose-response, placebo, profession-politics alignment robustness tests. To reduce concerns about randomness generated text, we collect same questions 100 times, question order randomized on each round. find robust evidence presents significant systematic toward Democrats US, Lula Brazil, Labour Party UK. These results translate into real general, extend even amplify existing challenges processes posed Internet Our findings important implications policymakers, media, politics, academia stakeholders.

Language: Английский

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Co-Writing with Opinionated Language Models Affects Users’ Views

Published: April 19, 2023

If large language models like GPT-3 preferably produce a particular point of view, they may influence people's opinions on an unknown scale. This study investigates whether language-model-powered writing assistant that generates some more often than others impacts what users write – and think. In online experiment, we asked participants (N=1,506) to post discussing social media is good for society. Treatment group used configured argue or bad Participants then completed attitude survey, independent judges (N=500) evaluated the expressed in their writing. Using opinionated model affected participants' shifted subsequent survey. We discuss wider implications our results built into AI technologies need be monitored engineered carefully.

Language: Английский

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Does the Squeaky Wheel Get More Grease? The Direct and Indirect Effects of Citizen Participation on Environmental Governance in China

American Economic Review, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 114(3), P. 815 - 850

Published: Feb. 29, 2024

We conducted a nationwide field experiment in China to evaluate the direct and indirect impacts of assigning firms public or private citizen appeals when they violate pollution standards. There are three main findings. First, regulator through social media substantially reduce violations emissions, while cause more modest environmental improvements. Second, appear tilt regulators’ focus away from facilitating economic growth toward avoiding pollution-induced unrest. Third, reductions by treated not offset control firms, based on randomly varying proportion at prefecture level. (JEL D22, L82, P28, P31, Q52, Q53, Q58)

Language: Английский

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The Political Effects of Immigration: Culture or Economics?

Journal of Economic Literature, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 62(1), P. 5 - 46

Published: March 1, 2024

We review the growing literature on political economy of immigration. First, we discuss effects immigration a wide range and social outcomes. The existing evidence suggests that immigrants often, but not always, trigger backlash, increasing support for anti-immigrant parties lowering preferences redistribution diversity among natives. Next, unpack channels behind immigration, distinguishing between economic noneconomic forces. In examining mechanisms, highlight important mediating factors, such as misperceptions, media, conditions under which intergroup contact occurs. also outline promising avenues future research. (JEL D72, H23, J11, J15, K37, R23, Z13)

Language: Английский

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