https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3653388 Skip to main content PDF iconDownload This Paper Open PDF in Browser Add Paper to My Library Share: * * * * Permalink Using these links will ensure access to this page indefinitely [https://papers.ssrn.] Copy URL [https://dx.doi.org/1] Copy DOI Social Media, News Consumption, and Polarization: Evidence from a Field Experiment 115 Pages Posted: 18 Aug 2020 Last revised: 30 Jan 2021 See all articles by Roee Levy Roee Levy Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Department of Economics Date Written: August 19, 2020 Abstract Does the consumption of ideologically congruent news on social media exacerbate polarization? I estimate the effects of social media news exposure by conducting a large field experiment randomly offering participants subscriptions to conservative or liberal news outlets on Facebook. I collect data on the causal chain of media effects: subscriptions to outlets, exposure to news on Facebook, visits to online news sites, and sharing of posts, as well as changes in political opinions and attitudes. Four main findings emerge. First, random variation in exposure to news on social media substantially affects the slant of news sites individuals visit. Second, exposure to counter-attitudinal news decreases negative attitudes toward the opposing political party. Third, in contrast to the effect on attitudes, I find no evidence that the political leanings of news outlets affect political opinions. Fourth, Facebook's algorithm is less likely to supply individuals with posts from counter-attitudinal outlets, conditional on individuals subscribing to them. Together, the results suggest that social media algorithms may limit exposure to counter-attitudinal news and thus increase polarization. Keywords: polarization, social media, filter bubble, field experiment JEL Classification: D72, L82, L86, O33 Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation Levy, Roee, Social Media, News Consumption, and Polarization: Evidence from a Field Experiment (August 19, 2020). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3653388 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ ssrn.3653388 Roee Levy (Contact Author) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Department of Economics ( email ) 50 Memorial Drive E52-391 Cambridge, MA 02142 United States PDF iconDownload This Paper Open PDF in Browser Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN? 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