Social Media Use and Conspiracy Beliefs

• In Event: 50462 - Section on Science, Knowledge, and Technology Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 12: Trust and Uncertainty

Abstract

Recent scholarship suggests that conspiracy beliefs are associated with social media use, yet the nature of this relationship warrants further sociological inquiry. I clarify two key aspects of this pattern through analysis of four national survey datasets – datasets covering a wide host of conspiracy beliefs, social media indicators, social status attributes, and pertinent controls. First, my analyses show quite clearly that breadth of social media use matters. Specifically, those who use a higher number of mainstream social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube) are more conspiratorial, regardless of how often those platforms are used. Second, I assess whether the relation between social media use and such views holds for all status groups. Regardless of measurement strategy, I find a persistent pattern: social media use is only a strong predictor of conspiracy beliefs for those high in socioeconomic status. For those of low SES, the link between social media use and conspiracy beliefs is notably weaker and/or non-existent. I conclude by elaborating on future research directions, integrating my findings into sociological literatures on conspiracy cultures and digital divides.

Author

• Saverio Roscigno, University of California-Irvine