University of Twente Student Theses
Social Media (Dis)Connecting the World? : Effects of Self-Selective Exposure to Partisan Content on Social Media on Political Tolerance.
Maurik, Roald Sybren van (2019) Social Media (Dis)Connecting the World? : Effects of Self-Selective Exposure to Partisan Content on Social Media on Political Tolerance.
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| Abstract: | This study investigates whether self-selective exposure affects the level of political tolerance. Social media is an essential aspect in the lives of many people across the globe. Self-selective exposure means that people are more inclined to interact with information that reconfirms pre-existing beliefs. Self-selective exposure could affect the level of political tolerance, this could hurt the liberal democratic system which is based on the fact that voters are exposed to several political opinions. From a scientific point of view, this research is significant because most research is done on this topic in the United States, were there is a two-party system based on competition rather than a multi-party system based on consensus. A survey to investigate the relationship between self-selective exposure and political tolerance was conducted among 216 people aged 18 to 35. The outcomes are that left-winged respondents who are higher educated are more politically tolerant. People are more active on social media are less politically tolerant. Politically partisan people are more inclined to be self-selective in their exposure. Finally, people who have higher populist attitudes are more self-selective in their exposure. When people block or unfriend someone on social media, they are less politically tolerant towards right-wing extremists. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 88 social and public administration, 89 political science |
| Programme: | Public Administration MSc (60020) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/79831 |
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