Human or AI Decide: Consume Selective Exposure in Political News on Social Media

• In Event: The Limits of Free Expression on Social Media

Abstract

With the rise of social media, individuals’ sources of political news and information have increased dramatically, and so has the abundance of political news and information, as well as more opportunities for users’ participation (Winter et al., 2016). Each individual is at the center of their personal information network and has the right to choose the media they want to follow (Thorson & Wells, 2016). Based on this context of highly selective media landscape, there may have a significant impact on the public’s selective exposure to the consumption of political news and information. The research project focuses political news and information consumption on social media, examines the effectiveness of selective exposure in today’s social media landscape.
In the research project, there are two research questions and two respective corresponding hypotheses that come from two concepts, curated flow, and news-finds-me perception. Based on the two concepts, people and algorithms jointly shape the news and information every individual consumes and shares on social media. In other words, algorithms and social networks can choose the news and information for one with selective exposure, which may further enhance the selective exposure of one.
RQ1: Are people aware of their selective exposure when consuming political news and information on social media, especially the selective exposure caused by algorithms of different social media platforms?
H1: Awareness of the existence of algorithm results in less selective exposure and more neutrality in political news and information consumption on social media.
RQ2: Are people aware of their selective exposure when consuming political news and information on social media, especially the selective exposure caused by selection of news by their social networks?
H2: Awareness of social networks role in news and information selection results in less selective exposure and more neutrality in political news and information consumption on social media.
To answer these research questions and test hypotheses, the research employs survey as the methodology. The researcher uses 5-point Likert scales and choice questions to ask the participants questions. Specifically, questions in Likert scales regarding the political news and information consumption behaviors on social media were asked to 400 participants from the United States.
Through a survey of political news and information consumers on social media, this study investigates the impact of people's awareness of the influence of artificial intelligence and social networks on news consumption habits on selective exposure of news consumption in daily life, making theoretical contributions to selective exposure in the current social media environment. At the same time, this research makes important empirical contributions, giving practical tips to prevent selective exposure in everyday political news and information consumption.
References
Thorson, K., & Wells, C. (2016). Curated flows: A framework for mapping media exposure in the digital age. Communication Theory, 26(3), 309-328. https://doi.org/10.1111/comt.12087
Winter, S., Metzger, M. J., & Flanagin, A. J. (2016). Selective use of news cues: A multiple-motive perspective on information selection in social media environments. Journal of Communication, 66(4), 669-693. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcom.12241

Author

• Yuxuan Jin, University of Florida