Shifting spectrums: how does media consumption alter political orientation?

Josep Marti, Zayed University
Kerim Peren Arin, Zayed University

Document Type

Article

Source of Publication

Comparative European Politics

Publication Date

1-1-2025

Abstract

In the contemporary digital age, media consumption is a pervasive force shaping political beliefs and behaviors. The interplay between traditional mass media and social media has created a complex environment where political orientation is continuously influenced and reshaped by the increased exposure to media content spanning the political spectrum. Understanding how these media sources impact political attitudes is crucial for understanding the broader dynamics of democratic societies, particularly in Western Europe, where democratic politics is undergoing significant disruption and fragmentation. This paper aims to investigate the drivers behind political orientation, specifically examining the role of mass and social media trust and consumption in reinforcing or reshaping political attitudes, thereby moderating or amplifying political polarization in European countries. The results reveal that media trust and consumption are associated with divergent effects on political attitudes, depending on the media type. Additionally, this study corroborates that media’s impact on political attitudes varies across European democracies, underscoring the role of national contexts in shaping these dynamics.

ISSN

1472-4790

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Disciplines

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Keywords

Media consumption, Media trust, Political orientation, Shifting spectrums

Scopus ID

105009549089

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

no

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS