Jae Kook Lee

Filtering out the other side? Cross-cutting and like-minded discussions on social networking sites

Disagreement persists as to whether social networking sites (SNSs) are used more frequently to facilitate cross-cutting or like-minded discussions. We examine the relationship between the use of SNSs and involvement in discussions with politically similar and dissimilar others among a sample of US Democrats and Republicans. Affective polarization is negatively related to involvement in cross-cutting discussions, suggesting that individuals extend their dislike of the opposing political party to out-party members within their online social networks. Moreover, political discussion with one’s friends on SNSs plays a mediating role in involvement in both cross-cutting and like-minded discussions. Finally, party identification moderates the relationship between SNS use and involvement in cross-cutting discussions, indicating that Republicans participate more frequently than Democrats in cross-cutting exchanges on SNSs. In the light of these findings, we discuss the contribution of SNSs to the ideals of deliberative democracy.

Cross-cutting exposure on social networking sites

Drawing on a national probability survey, this study explores the relationship between discussion disagreement on social networking sites and political participation by focusing on the intervening effects of political discussion and news use. The results revealed that discussion disagreement on SNSs inhibits off- and online political participation, and this relationship is partially mediated by the frequency of SNS political discussion. Furthermore, the frequency of news-related activities on SNSs is found to moderate the mediating effect of political discussion. The implications are discussed. We investigated how SNS discussion disagreement relates to political participation.SNS discussion disagreement inhibits online and offline political participation.SNS political discussion mediates the link between disagreement and participation.Frequency of SNS news use moderates the mediating effect of political discussion.

Incidental exposure to news: Predictors in the social media setting and effects on information gain online

Abstract Employing two studies, this paper investigates incidental exposure to news online in terms of its influence on individual learning about public affairs as well as its predictors in the social media environment. Study 1, using an experimental design, shows that incidental exposure to news has significant effects on an individuals recognition and recall of information in news stories. The effects of incidental exposure on recall are mediated by actual exposure to information in the news (spending some time on reading), suggesting gateway effects of initial exposure by accident. Employing a national survey, Study 2 finds that social media network heterogeneity and proportion of weak ties are positively associated with likelihood of incidental exposure to news online, while most variables of individual characteristics are not. The significant effects of structural factors found suggest that incidental exposure can limit consequences of selective exposure. Further implications of the findings are discussed.

Social Media Type Matters: Investigating the Relationship Between Motivation and Online Social Network Heterogeneity

This study investigated relationships between social media motivation, relative preferences for social media type, and network heterogeneity, using a U.S. national survey. By classifying social media into the symmetrical and the asymmetrical, we showed that relationship motivation was more likely to be associated with a preference for the symmetrical type, whereas information motivation with a preference for the asymmetrical. Network heterogeneity was positively predicted by relationship motivation but not by information motivation. Finally, a relative preference for the symmetrical type was found to mediate the association between relationship motivation and network heterogeneity.

All things considered? Investigating the diversity of public affairs issues that individuals think about in the Internet age

We analyze two American National Election Studies of 2004 and 2008.We investigate factors influencing diversity of agenda in the new media environment.Interest and education are significant predictors of agenda diversity.Access to the Internet enhances an individuals agenda diversity through specific exposure in 2008.Income and specific exposure to campaign information yield mixed effects on agenda diversity. This study investigates factors that have influence on the diversity of public affairs issues considered by individuals in the new media environment, exemplified by the Internet. By analyzing two data sets of the 2004 and 2008 American National Election Studies (ANES), we found that individuals are likely to consider more issues, as they are exposed to the Internet, even after controlling for key variables, such as socio-economic status, political interest, and traditional media use in 2008 study. Further, specific exposure to campaign was found significantly associated with agenda diversity in 2008 study. When both of Internet use and specific exposure were taken into account, the effects of Internet use vanished, indicating that specific exposure plays a mediating role. We also found that education and interest in public affairs are significant predictors of agenda diversity. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Network characteristics matter in politics on Facebook: evidence from a US national survey

Facebook has been identified as a primary source of political information by a majority (63 percent) of its users. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between Facebook use and political participation, and investigate the mediating effects of the characteristics of one’s Facebook network (i.e. network size, proportion of strong ties, and discussion network heterogeneity).,This study relies on a representative survey of American adults (n=1,032) conducted during the 2012 primary election campaigns from May 3 to May 10. The sample was randomly selected from a representative online panel maintained by a professional research organization. Given this study’s focus on the influence of Facebook use and network characteristics, an online panel is suitable for testing the hypotheses.,The results show positive associations between Facebook use and both off- and online political participation. Further, the positive association between Facebook use and political participation is mediated by discussion network heterogeneity and the proportion of strong ties in one’s Facebook network, but not the network size.,This study sheds light on the roles played by network characteristics of Facebook. The composition of a user’s Facebook network is closely related with what kind of information she encounters and how likely she is to participate in politics. Hence, network characteristics (e.g. Facebook discussion network heterogeneity) arise as important for gaining a nuanced understanding of the relationship between general use of the medium and its political outcomes.

Knowledge as a Measure of News Reception in the Agenda-Setting Process

This study investigates the role knowledge plays in the agenda-setting process, conceptualizing public affairs knowledge as a measure of news reception. Comparing content analysis data and opinion survey results of 2 election campaigns in Canada and the United States, this study finds that, on the individual level, knowledge better predicted medias agenda-setting effects than traditional self-reported exposure items. Furthermore, these findings demonstrate that knowledge mediated the effects of interest on the variance of agenda-setting effects. Implications of these findings are discussed.