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Questions and Answers
Digital media facilitates political communication beyond the confines of existing networks.
False
The majority of adults in the study posted original commentary on a political blog or online discussion.
False
Online communication is often characterized by individuals driving the political conversation with original content.
False
The frequency of online expression is significantly higher than traditional indicators of political involvement.
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The majority of adults in the study contributed money online to a political party or campaign.
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The benefits of expressing opinions online always outweigh the costs.
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Voting is a cost-free form of political activity.
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The majority of adults post comments on news sites or political blogs during presidential elections.
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The Internet provides a multitude of forums and formats for opinion expression, but only for those who are motivated to participate in political activities.
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There is a significant number of adults who engage in online political communication through publicly accessible venues.
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Study Notes
Online Opinion Expression
- Opinion expression is a rational form of political participation where individuals express opinions when benefits outweigh costs.
- In the digital age, opportunities for opinion expression are virtually unlimited, providing numerous forums and formats.
- Online opinion expression is virtually cost-free, with little to no hard costs associated with expressing an opinion.
Low Costs and Minimal Social Consequences
- Online opinion expression has minimal social costs when opinions are expressed within relatively friendly forums.
- There is no "spiral of silence" on the Internet, as virtually every opinion can find a relatively friendly audience.
Online Political Communication
- 28% of adults communicated with others about politics using the Internet during the 2008 presidential elections.
- Fewer than one in ten (6%) posted a comment in a publicly accessible venue.
- Comments are most commonly posted on social networking sites that limit access to identified "friends" rather than on news sites or political blogs.
Networked Information Economy
- Digital media facilitates political communication, but it is most often occurring within the relatively friendly confines of existing networks.
- A single individual can reach hundreds or thousands of "friends" and family through e-mail, tweets, and Facebook postings.
- The networked information economy provides a non-market alternative to traditional news sources, allowing individual users to drive the political conversation.
Recycling Material
- 21% of adults forwarded someone else's political commentary, while only 6% posted original comments on a political blog or online discussion.
- Political communication may be facilitated by online media, but it is often the recycling of material using forwarded e-mail messages and YouTube videos.
Comparison with Traditional Political Involvement
- 48% of respondents tried to persuade someone to vote for or against one of the presidential candidates in 2004 (ANES).
- 7% attended a political meeting, 3% worked for a party or campaign, and 13% contributed money online in 2004 (ANES).
- Online communication may be expressed to a more diverse set of social networks and, consequently, online discussion may differ from traditional forms of political involvement.
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Description
This quiz explores the role of opinion expression in political participation, particularly in the digital age where online forums and formats provide unlimited opportunities for citizens to voice their opinions.
