Hostile Media and Friendly Chambers: Social Media Polarization and the 2024 U.S. Campus Protests

Ran Wei; Jing Guo; Xinzhi Zhang; Ven-hwei Lo

doi:10.1080/08838151.2026.2642912

Hostile Media and Friendly Chambers: Social Media Polarization and the 2024 U.S. Campus Protests

Ran Wei
, Jing Guo^*
, Xinzhi Zhang
, Ven-hwei Lo

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Communication Studies

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review

Abstract

This study examines the predictors and behavioral outcomes of hostile media perception of campus protest. Data from a national online survey of 1010 respondents during the 2024 American campus protests show that hostile media perception fueled strategic social media activity – strengthening in-group bonds and disengaging from opponents. Additionally, conspiracy beliefs moderated these effects, intensifying or reducing the impact of hostile media perception on polarized social media behavior, depending on belief strength.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-18
Number of pages	18
Journal	Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/08838151.2026.2642912
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 12 Mar 2026

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10.1080/08838151.2026.2642912

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title = "Hostile Media and Friendly Chambers: Social Media Polarization and the 2024 U.S. Campus Protests",

abstract = "This study examines the predictors and behavioral outcomes of hostile media perception of campus protest. Data from a national online survey of 1010 respondents during the 2024 American campus protests show that hostile media perception fueled strategic social media activity – strengthening in-group bonds and disengaging from opponents. Additionally, conspiracy beliefs moderated these effects, intensifying or reducing the impact of hostile media perception on polarized social media behavior, depending on belief strength.",

author = "Ran Wei and Jing Guo and Xinzhi Zhang and Ven-hwei Lo",

note = "This study was supported by a start-up grant from Hong Kong Baptist University Grant \#[162970]. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2026 Broadcast Education Association",

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Hostile Media and Friendly Chambers: Social Media Polarization and the 2024 U.S. Campus Protests

Abstract

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