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    Talking Politics on Facebook: Network Centrality and Political Discussion Practices in Social Media

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    Issue Date
    2015
    Author
    Miller, Patrick R.
    Bobkowski, Peter S.
    Maliniak, Daniel
    Rapoport, Ronald B.
    Publisher
    SAGE Publications
    Type
    Article
    Article Version
    Scholarly/refereed, publisher version
    Rights
    © 2015 University of Utah
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    Abstract
    This study examines the relationship between political discussion on Facebook and social network location. It uses a survey name generator to map friendship ties between students at a university and to calculate their centralities in that network. Social connectedness in the university network positively predicts more frequent political discussion on Facebook. But in political discussions, better connected individuals do not capitalize equally on the potential influence that stems from their more central network locations. Popular individuals who have more direct connections to other network members discuss politics more often but in politically safer interactions that minimize social risk, preferring more engaged discussion with like-minded others and editing their privacy settings to guard their political disclosures. Gatekeepers who facilitate connections between more pairs of otherwise disconnected network members also discuss politics more frequently, but are more likely to engage in risk-tolerant discussion practices such as posting political updates or attempting political persuasion. These novel findings on social connectedness extend research on offline political discussion into the social media sphere, and suggest that as social network research proliferates, analysts should consider how various types of network location shape political behavior.
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/1808/22559
    DOI
    https://doi.org/10.1177/1065912915580135
    Collections
    • Journalism Scholarly Works [93]
    • Political Science Scholarly Works [65]
    Citation
    Miller, P. R., Bobkowski, P. S., Maliniak, D., & Rapoport, R. B. (2015). Talking politics on Facebook: Network centrality and political discussion practices in social media. Political Research Quarterly, 68(2), 377-391. doi:10.1177/1065912915580135

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    KU Libraries
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    KU Libraries
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    Lawrence, KS 66045
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    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    Image Credits
     

     

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