Source effects in the micro-mobilization of collective action via social media

Abstract

Research has shown that micro-mobilization efforts that invoke social media rely heavily on the influence of personal networks to motivate collective action participation. This study examines whether this trend applies (a) to networks of different levels of personalness, (b) to causes and organizations which people are either unaware of or not affiliated with, and (c) how personal networks affect people's willingness to participate in online versus offline forms of collective action, when personal dispositional factors (activism- and issue involvement, perceived self-, technological-, and group efficacies) are considered. An experiment (N = 315) tested whether calls-to-action by different sources via social media (close personal networks v. distant social networks v. organization officials) influence individuals’ willingness to publicly express support online through social media-based collective activities (e.g. commenting, hyperlinking, ‘Liking’, etc.) and offline activities (e.g. demonstrations, donning campaign materials, etc.). Findings are leveraged to provide practical insight and to inform theoretical development in these domains.

Keywords:

• collective action
• social media
• source effects
• social networks
• activism
• micro-mobilization

Acknowledgement

This study represents independent and original research done by the authors above.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Elmie Nekmat, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Communications and New Media Department at the National University of Singapore. [email: [email protected]]

Karla K. Gower, Ph.D., is the Behringer Distinguished Professor in the Advertising and Public Relations Department of the College of Communication and Information Sciences, University of Alabama, and director for the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations. [email: [email protected]]

William J. Gonzenbach, Ph.D., is a professor in the Advertising and Public Relations Department of the College of Communication and Information Sciences, University of Alabama, and a fellow in the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations. [email: [email protected]]

Andrew J. Flanagin, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara. [email: [email protected]]