Second Screening and Political Persuasion on Social Media

Abstract

This article seeks to explain political persuasion in relation to second screening—people’s use of a second screen (i.e., smartphone/laptop) while watching television to access further information or discuss TV programs. Employing a two-wave-panel survey in the United States, results show this emergent practice makes people more open to changing their political opinions, particularly among those who habitually use social media for news or frequently interact with others in social media contexts.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Matthew Barnidge

Matthew Barnidge (Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison) is an assistant professor in the Department of Journalism & Creative Media at the University of Alabama. His research specializes in emerging media and contentious political communication with an international perspective.

Homero Gil de Zúñiga

Homero Gil de Zúñiga (Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison) is the Medienwandel Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Vienna, a research associate at the Center for Information Technology Policy (CITP) at Princeton University, and a research fellow at Universidad Diego Portales de Chile. His research addresses the influence of new technologies and digital media on people’s daily lives and the overall democratic process.

Trevor Diehl

Trevor Diehl (M.A., University of Texas at Austin) is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Communication at the University of Vienna. His research interests include emerging media and populism, as well as social media and journalism practice.