6533b7dafe1ef96bd126eb90
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Does the platform matter? Social media and COVID-19 conspiracy theory beliefs in 17 countries
Nicoleta CorbuFrank EsserKarolina Koc-michalskaJoerg MatthesDavid Nicolas HopmannSoyeon JinPeter Van AelstClaes H. De VreeseTamir SheaferYannis TheocharisJesper StrömbäckChristian SchemerToril AalbergSergio SplendoreVáclav ŠTětkaAgnieszka StępińskaJames StanyerAna Sofía CardenalLaia Castrosubject
Sociology and Political ScienceCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)teorías conspirativasConspiracy theorysocial mediaaffordancesPandemia de COVID-19 2020-oferimentsCOVID-19 Pandemic 2020-10240 Department of Communication and Media Researchconspiracy theories3312 Sociology and Political SciencePandèmia de COVID-19 2020-Social mediateories conspirativesSociologypercepción erróneaAffordance070 News media journalism & publishingCOVIDCommunicationCOVID-19misperceptionsofrecimientosEpistemologyddc:19Mass communicationsKey (cryptography)percepció erròniaAffordances3315 Communicationdescription
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.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-10-09 |