Does the platform matter? Social media and COVID-19 conspiracy theory beliefs in 17 countries

Publication type:
Journal article
Metadata:
Abstract
<jats:p> While the role of social media in the spread of conspiracy theories has received much attention, a key deficit in previous research is the lack of distinction between different types of platforms. This study places the role of social media affordances in facilitating the spread of conspiracy beliefs at the center of its enquiry. We examine the relationship between platform use and conspiracy theory beliefs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Relying on the concept of technological affordances, we theorize that variation across key features make some platforms more fertile places for conspiracy beliefs than others. Using data from a crossnational dataset based on a two-wave online survey conducted in 17 countries before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we show that Twitter has a negative effect on conspiracy beliefs—as opposed to all other platforms under examination which are found to have a positive effect. </jats:p>
Autoren
  • Yannis Theocharis
  • Ana Cardenal
  • Soyeon Jin
  • Toril Aalberg
  • David Nicolas Hopmann
  • Jesper Strömbäck
  • Laia Castro
  • Frank Esser
  • Peter Van Aelst
  • Claes de Vreese
  • Nicoleta Corbu
  • Karolina Koc-Michalska
  • Joerg Matthes
  • Christian Schemer
  • Tamir Sheafer
  • Sergio Splendore
  • James Stanyer
  • Agnieszka Stępińska
  • Václav Štětka
DOI
10.1177/14614448211045666
eISSN
1461-7315
ISSN
1461-4448
Ausgabe der Veröffentlichung
12
Zeitschrift
New Media &amp; Society
Sprache
en
Online publication date
2021
Paginierung
3412 - 3437
Datum der Veröffentlichung
2023
Status
Published
Herausgeber
SAGE Publications
Herausgeber URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/14614448211045666
Datum der Datenerfassung
2023
Titel
Does the platform matter? Social media and COVID-19 conspiracy theory beliefs in 17 countries
Ausgabe der Zeitschrift
25

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