Why Do Some Shout and Others Stay Silent? Communication Context Consistency in Political Discourse Offline and on Facebook

Authors

  • Carrie Anne Platt Interim Dean of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences and Professor of Communication at North Dakota State Universit
  • Don Waisanen Baruch College, CUNY
  • Jose Marichal Professor of Political Science at California Lutheran University

Keywords:

Facebook, political discourse, polarization, self-censorship, context collapse, social media

Abstract

Through an open-ended survey of 206 U.S. adults, we investigate how communication context (offline and on Facebook) informs one’s willingness to share political opinions. We develop an analytical approach for examining how the stability of or shifts between offline and online messages can provide insights into the discourse environments of social media platforms. Our study uses qualitative analysis to identify and explore (1) self-censorship types, (2) conditions, and (3) tactics specific to online and offline contexts. Our approach helps explain both polarization and self-censorship in political conversations on Facebook. More so, it can provide a way to operationalize and evaluate the environments for political discourse on social media platforms in general.

Author Biographies

Carrie Anne Platt, Interim Dean of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences and Professor of Communication at North Dakota State Universit

Interim Dean of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences and Professor of Communication at North Dakota State University. Her research focuses on the cultural impacts of emerging technologies.

Don Waisanen, Baruch College, CUNY

Don Waisanen is a Professor in the Baruch College, CUNY Marxe School of Public and International Affairs, where he teaches courses and workshops in public communication—including executive speech training, communication strategy, and seminars on leadership/management, storytelling, and improvisation. All his research projects seek to understand how communication works to promote or hinder democracy.

Jose Marichal, Professor of Political Science at California Lutheran University

Jose Marichal is Professor of Political Science at California Lutheran University. His research focuses on the role that social media play in restructuring political behavior and institutions.

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Published

2024-03-29

Issue

Vol. 18 (2024)

Section

Articles

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