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Unspeaking on Facebook? Testing network effects on self-censorship of political expressions in social network sites

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  • K. Kwon
  • Shin-Il Moon
  • Michael Stefanone

Abstract

The aim of this study is to explore online social network exposure effects on predicting individual’s willingness to self-censor political expression (WTSC) and political posting behaviors. The spiral of silence (SOS) theory is applied to the context of online social networks wherein three major network characteristics are highlighted: reduced privacy, integration of multiple social context/relationships, and increase in unanticipated exposure to different opinions. The discussion leads us to propose three possible network effects in terms of WTSC and posting behavior including ‘relationship-specific fear of isolation’, ‘incongruence with dominant political orientation’, and ‘exposure to diverse opinions’. Results show that the exposure to diverse opinions is positively associated with WTSC, which in turn is associated with political posting behavior online. Interestingly, while fear of isolation from offline contacts increases WTSC, it has a positive association with actual posting behavior. We speculate to what extent the social conformity proposition of the SOS theory should persist online and call for further exploration of informational nfluence as conceptually distinct from normative influence. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015

Suggested Citation

  • K. Kwon & Shin-Il Moon & Michael Stefanone, 2015. "Unspeaking on Facebook? Testing network effects on self-censorship of political expressions in social network sites," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 49(4), pages 1417-1435, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:qualqt:v:49:y:2015:i:4:p:1417-1435
    DOI: 10.1007/s11135-014-0078-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Philip Cook & Conrad Heilmann, 2013. "Two Types of Self-Censorship: Public and Private," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 61(1), pages 178-196, March.
    2. Minjeong Kim & Han Woo Park, 2012. "Measuring Twitter-based political participation and deliberation in the South Korean context by using social network and Triple Helix indicators," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 90(1), pages 121-140, January.
    3. Han Woo Park, 2014. "Mapping election campaigns through negative entropy: Triple and Quadruple Helix approach to South Korea’s 2012 presidential election," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 99(1), pages 187-197, April.
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