Abstract
Abstract Recently, an increase in radicalism in the political sphere has ocurred. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the intensity of Facebook use on political radicalism and activism, taking as hypothesis (H1) that the intensity of Facebook use can increase radicalism and activism rates and (H2) that this effect would be partially mediated by the degree of confidence in Facebook consumed information. To this end, 211 respondents participated by answering the Facebook Intensity Scale, Online News Consumption Confidence Scale and Activism and Radicalism Intention Scale. The results did not corroborate the mediation model (H2) but only the direct effect (H1), indicating that, regardless of user trust in the news they are accessing, the use of Facebook tends to favor higher rates of activism and radicalism. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Highlights
Resumo Recentemente tem sido noticiado um incremento do radicalismo no âmbito político
Study Overview Given these considerations, the present study aimed to evaluate the influence of the intensity of Facebook use on political radicalism and activism
Linear regressions were applied in order to analyze the direct influence of the intensity of Facebook use on radicalism and activism indices
Summary
Resumo Recentemente tem sido noticiado um incremento do radicalismo no âmbito político. El presente estudio buscó evaluar la influencia de la intensidad del uso de Facebook en el radicalismo y activismo político, teniendo como hipótesis (H1) que la intensidad del uso de Facebook puede incrementar los índices de radicalismo y activismo y (H2) que ese efecto sería parcialmente mediado por el grado de confianza en la información consumida en Facebook. Los resultados no corroboraron el modelo de mediación (H2), sino sólo el efecto directo (H1), indicando que, independientemente del usuario confiar en la noticia que está accediendo, el uso de Facebook tiende a favorecer mayores índices de activismo y radicalismo. Palabras clave: medios sociales; influencia social; psicología política It is noticeable, and often reported that, for some years a growth in radical action and hate speech in different political contexts has occurred (Antunes, 2016; Santana & Silva, 2017). These filters have the main characteristic of restraining the individual to a restricted information cycle, since they tend to favor contact with content corresponding to the user personal likes, values, beliefs and expectations (Antunes, 2016; Fava & Pernisa Júnior, 2017; Pariser, 2012; Santana & Silva, 2017; Santos, 2016)
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