Censorship Can be Counterproductive: Sensitivity and Media Credibility

• In Event: A Matter of Trust: Media Credibility, Platforms, and Context

Abstract

Censorship is an organic part of China's efforts to maintain effective governance. Previous studies in political science have investigated the censorship logic and the censorship effectiveness in China. Yet, the consequences of government censorship are far from deciphered. By drawing the connection between government censorship and media credibility, this paper tries to answer the following question: could government censorship be counter-productive by increasing the credibility of political rumors in China? Using a mixed methodology, this research studies people's reactions to different types of political rumors in the setting of WeChat, a Chinese social media. In the pilot data, we found that people who are more sensitive towards censorship are more credulous to rumors. This suggests that government censorship can have a negative effect in the long run when citizens become more aware of its existence. However, the pilot data also suggests that the strategic censorship in China is effective because most people are not capable of telling which kinds of information are more likely to be censored. Simultaneously, political rumors containing sensitive contents are potentially less credible, according to the pilot data.

Author

• Ziyi Wu, Massachusetts Institute of Technology