The Network Matters: Social Media Networks and Political Expression
The Network Matters: Social Media Networks and Political Expression

Summary/Abstract: Political engagement on social media is an important way for many individuals to express their political opinions and beliefs. Research has not fully explained the mechanism by which individuals use social media for political purposes. The 2012 U.S. Presidential Election provided a useful context to understand this mechanism. Thus, the study uses a representative survey sample of U.S. adults to examine the importance of the social media network on individuals’ political expression on these sites. After controlling for a host of demographic and attention to news media variables, the results suggest the more individuals’ social media network expresses themselves politically on social media, the more likely individuals express themselves too.

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