Angry tweets

Author(s)
Melanie Saumer, Kateryna Maikovska, Ariadne Neureiter, Anastasia Cepelova, Hendrik van Scharrel, Jörg Matthes
Abstract

Hostile speech by politicians is increasingly prevalent on social media, especially for regular social media users. However, studies that compare the effects of political incivility versus intolerance on recipients’ emotions, political distrust, and political participation intentions are lacking. Findings of an experimental study (N = 297) indicated that uncivil speech had no significant effect on young recipients’ negative emotions. In contrast, intolerant speech elicited negative emotions, which increased political distrust and political participation intentions. Further, we assumed that a female politician using incivility/intolerance elicits stronger emotional reactions than a male politician. However, effects appeared independent of the gender of the communicator. Implications are discussed.

Organisation(s)
Department of Communication
Journal
Journal of Information Technology & Politics
Pages
1-17
ISSN
1933-1681
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/19331681.2024.2433760
Publication date
11-2024
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
508007 Communication science
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
General Computer Science, Sociology and Political Science, Public Administration
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/f401ca60-488d-4591-8f01-faeed3e0adb1