Social media, misinformation, and age inequality in online political engagement

ABSTRACT

This study explores the role of political information seeking on social media and perceived exposure to misinformation in influencing online political engagement. A survey investigation of three Sub-Saharan African countries (Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa) suggests that both information seeking and perceived exposure to misinformation are positively associated with online political engagement. We find that younger citizens are more actively engaged in online political activities. However, we also find that perceived exposure to misinformation has varying effects on political engagement across age groups. More frequent perceived exposure to misinformation is found to be a mobilizer for online political engagement for the older population. We conclude with a discussion of how social media may facilitate greater engagement for the older population. Still, the mobilizing role of misinformation exposure raises concerns about the consequences of such political engagement. Theoretical implications for political engagement research, in general and in the countries under study, are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Political engagement
• survey
• misinformation
• information seeking
• political inequality
• Sub-Saharan Africa

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Saifuddin Ahmed

Saifuddin Ahmed (Ph.D., University of California-Davis) is an Assistant Professor in the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. His research interests lie in new and emerging media, political communication, misinformation studies and public opinion. He is particularly interested in the transformative role of new media in civic and political engagement in technologically emerging societies.

Address: Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University, 31 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637718; Email: [email protected]

Dani Madrid-Morales

Dani Madrid-Morales (Ph.D., City University of Hong Kong) is a Lecturer in the Department of Journalism Studies at the University of Sheffield. His research falls at the nexus of global media studies, international politics, and popular culture, and is geographically focused in the Global South, particularly East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Address: 9 Mappin Street, Sheffield, S1 4DT; Email: [email protected].

Melissa Tully

Melissa Tully (Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison) is an Associate Professor and the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Iowa. She is particularly interested in media produced in and about Africa. She is currently working on research about misinformation and media literacy in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Address: School of Journalism and Mass Communication, 100 Adler Journalism Building, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-2004; Email: HYPERLINK “mailto:[email protected]„ [email protected]