Chinese Journal of Sociology ›› 2017, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (4): 217-240.

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Comments and Links:Group Political Polarization in Social Networking Sites:An Explanation Based on Micro Behaviors

CHEN Fuping1, XU Danhong2   

  1. 1. Department of Sociology and Social Work, Xiamen University;
    2. Department of Sociology, Fudan University
  • Online:2017-07-20 Published:2017-07-20
  • Supported by:

    This Research was supported by the National Social Science Foundation of China (14CSH005).

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Abstract:

Much research in communication has been concerned with the phenomenon of group political polarization in the Internet. But in the new age of social media, how has the situation and the formation mechanism for group polarization in the Internet changed? To answer this question, this paper proposes a group political polarization model, which includes comment/opinion and link data. Our model uses online SNS (Social Networking Sites) user's data to test the hypothesis. The study finds that the usage of SNS promotes online political participation behavior and willingness. However, SNS include technology, media and social networks, and the study further finds that the distinction between comment and links'homogenization is the critical reason for group polarization in SNS. Based on this logic, by analysis of cross-nation data, the study shows that more people share political views in SNS, but the probability that they will adapt to new opinions is lower. Therefore, the study indicates that group polarization may not be simply categorized as irrational behavior, but contains the rational evolution of online social networks. When creating a multi-negotiated network in the new media age, we can solve polarization problems by paying attention to comments and links. Our findings are also significant for online civic participation and democratic consultation in China.

Key words: group polarization, multi-negotiation, homophily, social networking sites