From clicks to convictions: investigating the spread and influence of political messages on social media
From clicks to convictions: investigating the spread and influence of political messages on social media

Summary/Abstract: This research seeks to understand the effects of social media on political discourse, information access, and democracy by examining the interplay between message spread, algorithms, and citizen behaviour. To clarify the complex relationship between online platforms and political activity, this study draws on examining theoretical concepts such as agenda-setting (McCombs & Valenzuela, 2020), echo chambers (Sunstein, 2009), social media filtering algorithms (Bozdag, 2013), and digital citizenship (Ribble & Park, 2022). This study aims to investigate how political messages are disseminated and how public attention is drawn to particular messages, thus influencing the political discourse in online spaces. It will also explore how social media algorithms filter and deliver content to users, possibly forming echo chambers that limit exposure to opposing points of view and strengthen pre-existing ideas.

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