Facebook and Political Information in Italy and the UK: An Antidote against Political Fragmentation and Polarisation?

Isidoropaolo Casteltrione

doi:10.29333/ojcmt/2454

Abstract

Due to the rise of digital technologies citizens can today counton innumerable and diverse sources of political information. Arguably such a proliferation of media choices in conjunction with a structural aspect of the internet, namely the presence of a pro-active and self-selecting audience, offers the conditions most conducive to selective exposure (Bimber & Davis 2003). The tendency for selectivity of the internet audience has raised serious concerns as it maylead to a more polarised and less informed electorate (Sunstein 2001, Polat 2005, Bennett & Iyengar 2008). However, despite many theoretical speculations, the relationship between the internet and the exposure to politically diverse information is still unclear. The present paper aims to contribute to this debate. Through a sequential explanatory mixed methods strategy, it examines the impact of Facebook on the consumption of political information in Italy and the United Kingdom and argues thatthis social networking website could reduce the risks of selective exposure and operate as an antidote against political fragmentation and polarization.

Highlights

IntroductionDigital technologieshave multiplied the number of information sources and the amount of available information, but they have transformed the nature of such information by providing increasingly interactive and networked content (Hardy, Jamieson & Winneg, 2009).Two main areas of the information environment have been affected by the internet
The informative impact of the internet on today’s society is certainly manifold
This paper focuses on communication activities which Christy (1987) describes as a form of political participation not channelled through political institutions and reflecting a more individual interest and psychological involvement in politics.Three activities related to the consumption of political information have been considered in this paper: learning about a political initiative, meeting, rally and/or protest;learning about a group or an organisation developed around politics; and consumption of political news.Each of the activities has been assessed through a five-point frequency scale (1=Never, 2=Rarely, 3=Sometimes, 4=Often and 5=Very Often)

Summary

Introduction

Digital technologieshave multiplied the number of information sources and the amount of available information, but they have transformed the nature of such information by providing increasingly interactive and networked content (Hardy, Jamieson & Winneg, 2009).Two main areas of the information environment have been affected by the internet. The current transformationsin the media and information environment, are due to the increase in available information and to a surgein demand for information. In this regard, according to Bennet and Iyengar (2008), the internet has played a decisive role in shaping an information greedy culture. The internet, with its limitless capacity for content diversity and quantity (Tewksbury and Rittenberg, 2012) is the engine driving such a demand, facilitating the development of an open information environment (Milakovich, 2010)

Methods

Results

Conclusion