Sixteenth International Conference on Technology, Knowledge & Society

Abstract

Social media is rapidly emerging as an important source of news. At ﬁrst glance, the widespread availability of political information on social media may be considered ideal for improving citizens’ knowledge of current events. Yet, recent studies suggest that social media use can actually hinder the individual’s acquisition of political knowledge (e.g., Cacciatore et al., 2018; Lee and Xenos, 2019). Although the literature is beginning to recognize the detrimental effect that social media use can have on political knowledge, no studies published to date have addressed the underlying mechanisms behind this effect. This study proposes the potential causal mechanisms underlying this effect. I propose that exposure to political information on social media may diminish one’s political awareness by creating a false sense of being informed, reducing news consumption through reliable platforms, encouraging selective information scanning, and increasing exposure to inaccurate information (e.g., fake news). To test theoretical mechanisms, I conduct structural equation modeling with two-wave panel data (pre- and post- U.S. presidential election in 2020). In addition to survey research, semi-structured interviews were conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the findings from the surveys. In this way, this study aims to expand our understanding of the processes through which social media may actually erode political knowledge.