Digital Pathways to Inclusion: Incidental Exposure on Social Media, Pro-Minority Content, and Political Tolerance in a Non-Western Democracy

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study investigates how incidental exposure to political information on social media can lead to political tolerance toward minorities by facilitating exposure to pro-minority content on social media and perceived threat of minorities conditions this mechanism. Using survey data from a non-Western democracy, the study finds that exposure to incidental exposure to political information on social media can propel pro-minority content exposure on social media, fostering increased political tolerance of religious minorities. It demonstrates the democratic role of incidental exposure on social media in fostering political tolerance toward minorities via increasing exposure to pro-minority content. However, the positive indirect effect is significant only for those perceiving low to medium threat levels from religious minorities. The study discusses the democratic implications of the findings and presents the limitations and suggestions for future research.