How Technology Encourages Political Selective Exposure

Dylko, Ivan B.

doi:10.1111/comt.12089

Cited by 43 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…In the social-scientific debate about the effects of algorithmic news recommendation on diversity, diversity is often conceptualized as ideologically cross-cutting exposure. For instance, Dylko (2016) examined the effects of user-driven versus system-driven customizable recommendation technology, and found that exposure to system-driven recommendation technology can result in political selective exposure, especially when combined with ideology-based customizability. They regard diversity as a form of selective exposure, as defined as 'proportionally high levels of consumption of information that supports one's political beliefs or attitudes, and proportionally low levels of consumption of information that is counter to one's political beliefs or attitudes' (p. 393).…”

Section: Diversity In the Social Sciencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do not blame it on the algorithm: an empirical assessment of multiple recommender systems and their impact on content diversity

Moeller

Trilling

Helberger

et al. 2018

Information, Communication & Society

261

143

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In the debate about filter bubbles caused by algorithmic news recommendation, the conceptualization of the two core concepts in this debate, diversity and algorithms, has received little attention in social scientific research. This paper examines the effect of multiple recommender systems on different diversity dimensions. To this end, it maps different values that diversity can serve, and a respective set of criteria that characterizes a diverse information offer in this particular conception of diversity. We make use of a data set of simulated article recommendations based on actual content of one of the major Dutch broadsheet newspapers and its users (N=21,973 articles, N=500 users). We find that all of the recommendation logics under study proved to lead to a rather diverse set of recommendations that are on par with human editors and that basing recommendations on user histories can substantially increase topic diversity within a recommendation set.

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Section: Diversity In the Social Sciencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do not blame it on the algorithm: an empirical assessment of multiple recommender systems and their impact on content diversity

Moeller

Trilling

Helberger

et al. 2018

Information, Communication & Society

261

143

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Also, the abundant customizability features on social media may make users cognizant of putting themselves into an “echo chamber.” Such realization makes individuals feel guilty for not being open-minded and encourages them to reduce the level of selective exposure (Dylko, 2016). Despite their tendency to select pro-attitudinal news, most Americans believe that exposure to challenging viewpoints is socially desirable and prefer political news sources that provide balanced information (Garrett and Resnick, 2011; Kohut et al, 2010).…”

Section: Incidental Exposure To Counter-attitudinal Information On Famentioning

confidence: 99%

Stumbling upon the other side: Incidental learning of counter-attitudinal political information on Facebook

Lee

2018

New Media & Society

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Drawing on a panel survey and a laboratory experiment, this study investigates incidental exposure to counter-attitudinal political information on Facebook. The frequency of Facebook use is found positively associated with incidental exposure to counter-attitudinal political information, suggesting the important role of Facebook in exposing users to political disagreement. In addition, the findings of the experiment indicate that individuals coming across counter-attitudinal Facebook posts are able to recognize the information of these posts. This study suggests that incidental exposure is an important mechanism through which social media users encounter and learn about counter-attitudinal political information. Implications are discussed in terms of the influence of social media use on democracy.

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“…This finding is consistent with past research on the rise of choice in cable television systems (Prior, 2007) and the Internet (Min, 2010). Although some scholars have worried about partisan fragmentation of political information due to increased personalization and selectivity online (e.g., Dylko, 2016; Sunstein, 2007), most empirical work has shown that Internet access does not result in increased avoidance of counterattitudinal information (e.g., Beam & Kosicki, 2014; Flaxman, Goel, & Rao, 2016; Garrett et al, 2013; Messing & Westwood, 2014). Additionally, evidence has shown that Internet users are often inadvertently exposed to cross-cutting political news, ideas, and discussion (Wojcieszak & Mutz, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, research generally shows that political interest is an important variable relative to understanding why attitudes among citizens polarize along party lines around contentious issues (Prior, 2013). This concern has been further highlighted in a time when the public has increased choices regarding media content (Iyengar & Hahn, 2009) and the capability of online programs to present people with information that is consistent with their political views has increased (Beam, 2014; Dylko, 2016). Based on our results, Internet skill could play an important role in further polarizing individuals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Democratic Digital Inequalities: Threat and Opportunity in Online Citizenship From Motivation and Ability

Beam

Hmielowski

Hutchens

2018

American Behavioral Scientist

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Internet access provides a number of ways to read, share, and discuss politics. However, the political benefits from technology are most likely afforded to those with greater Internet skill, political interest, and education. This study used nationally representative cross-sectional survey data collected during the 2016 U.S. general election to investigate two online news behaviors. Guided by research on digital inequalities, the opportunities–motivation–ability framework, and communication gaps, we found that Internet skill and political interest, but not education, are related to greater online news reading and sharing. We also found conditional relationships between Internet skill and online news behaviors that were moderated by political interest and education. Skill-based digital inequalities in online news behaviors are exacerbated for those with greater political interest, but the gap is reduced for those with less education. We discuss the threat and opportunity that a digital skill communication gap poses for online citizen engagement.

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How Technology Encourages Political Selective Exposure

Cited by 43 publications

References 54 publications

Do not blame it on the algorithm: an empirical assessment of multiple recommender systems and their impact on content diversity

Do not blame it on the algorithm: an empirical assessment of multiple recommender systems and their impact on content diversity

Stumbling upon the other side: Incidental learning of counter-attitudinal political information on Facebook

Democratic Digital Inequalities: Threat and Opportunity in Online Citizenship From Motivation and Ability

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