Digital Disconnectivity in 2024 U.S. College Protests: Effects of News Exposure, Third-Person Effect, and Polarization

This study examines how perceived news effects and affective polarization influence social media disconnection as a pathway for solidifying political identity during the 2024 pro-Palestine protests on U.S. college campuses. We use a population-based online survey in May 2024 (n = 1,010) to explore how protest news exposure affects perceived media influence and social media behaviors. Results show that news exposure increases perceived effects on both oneself and others, with a greater impact perceived on others. However, only the perceived effect on oneself predicts social media disconnection, such as unfriending those with opposing views on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Affective polarization moderates the link between perceived impact on others and disconnection. Notably, the influence of perceived effect on others is stronger when affective polarization is low. These findings suggest that perceived effects on others may push those with moderate views toward more extreme positions due to increased animosity toward opposing groups. Our finding implies that during political conflicts, perceived news effects drive people into ideological silos. We advance third-person effects research by highlighting the roles of affective polarization and politically motivated social media disengagement.