Activating Support for Social Movements The Effect of the Internet on Public Opinion toward Social Movements in Hong Kong

Abstract

Despite the stagnant democratization process, social movements and citizens' contentious collective action have become a prominent feature in Hong Kong politics in the past few years. One specific issue which has aroused the interest of both scholars and commentators is the role of new media technologies in the protest politics in Hong Kong. While much research in Europe and America has documented the Internet's ability to facilitate the expansion of social movement mobilization and participation, this essay examines whether the Internet has helped to foster positive public opinion toward social movements, their goals, and their collective action. Based on considerations of the characteristics of the online information environment and people's information-seeking behavior, this essay develops the hypotheses concerning persuasion, support activation, and opinion radicalization. These hypotheses are examined in the case of the anti-Express Rail protests in Hong Kong in early 2010. Analysis of survey data (N=1,007) confirms the support activation and opinion radicalization hypotheses. Theoretical and social implications of the findings are discussed.