When Disagreement Becomes Uncivil on Social Media: The Role of Passive Receiving and Active Expression of Incivility in Influencing Political Polarization

Hsuan Ting Chen, Yunya Song*, Jing Guo

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Abstract

Exposure to cross-cutting viewpoints may not always play the deliberative role it is supposed to. This study uses both panel survey and social media data to examine how disagreement can trigger incivility, including exposure to and expression of incivility, and further elicit emotions and influence polarization. Results from the two-wave panel survey indicate that cross-cutting exposure has a polarizing effect first through promoting exposure to uncivil messages and expression of uncivil opinions, then through negative emotions. Notably, cross-cutting exposure can indirectly reduce polarization by first encouraging expression of uncivil opinions and then eliciting positive emotions, highlighting the importance of active expression. Analysis of data from the Hong Kong-based discussion forum HKDisc demonstrates that cross-cutting exposure is positively related to exposure to uncivil messages, and exposure to and expression of incivility predict polarization regardless of whether positive or negative emotions are detected in the uncivil content. This study provides empirical evidence of the effects of cross-cutting exposure and incivility on polarization at the individual and collective levels.

Original languageEnglish
Number of pages28
JournalCommunication Research
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 20 Oct 2024

Scopus Subject Areas

  • Communication
  • Language and Linguistics
  • Linguistics and Language

User-Defined Keywords

  • cross-cutting exposure
  • emotions
  • expression
  • online incivility
  • political polarization

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