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Psychol Sci October 2015 PMID 26297377

Tweeting From Left to Right: Is Online Political Communication More Than an Echo Chamber?

Pablo Barberá, John T Jost, Jonathan Nagler, Joshua A Tucker, Richard Bonneau

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Mentions

86
Peak: 3 in Jul 2020
across 6 sources since Jan 2019

Extended reach

221,922
potential audience

Total likes

61

Video views

12

Mentions per month

Jan 2019 – Nov 2024

Where it's discussed

  • News34 articles
  • X / Twitter30 posts
  • Blogs12 articles
  • Facebook4 posts
  • Reddit4 posts
  • YouTube2 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions reflect a nuanced view, citing research such as Barberá et al.'s work on polarization and cross-dialogue, with tone focusing on evidence that social media's echo chamber effects may be overstated. Words like 'overstated' and references to studies demonstrate both critical analysis and engagement, emphasizing that the topic is complex and impactful for understanding political communication online.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge that social media has some echo chamber effects, but many also highlight that the phenomenon is nuanced and not entirely pervasive.

InterestHigh interest

The discussions show a high level of interest, with multiple comments referencing specific research, articles, and concepts related to online political communication.

EngagementHigh engagement

Posts engage deeply by analyzing research findings, debating implications, and referencing multiple studies, indicating thoughtful participation.

ImpactModerate impact

While some recognize the significance of the topic in understanding political discourse, there is a sense that the overall impact is more about nuanced understanding than immediate change.

Abstract in brief

  • The study analyzed 150 million tweets from 38 million users to see if online political communication is more like an echo chamber or a national conversation, finding that users tend to share information mainly with those who have similar political views on issues like the 2012 election, but less so on other events.
  • The research showed that discussions on political issues often start as a broad national conversation before becoming more polarized, especially around events like the Newtown shootings, but liberals are more likely than conservatives to share and exchange ideas across ideological lines.
  • The findings suggest that social media isn’t as segregated as previous studies indicated, meaning people do engage with opposing views more often than previously thought, challenging the idea that social media solely fosters echo chambers.]
Read the full abstract

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Michael Bang Petersen
@M_B_Petersen · X

Ekkokamre findes. Men forskningen tyder i stigende grad på, at ekkokamre findes *offline* (https://t.co/hDkDwl89iv), mens at internettet nedbryder ekkokamre, både når det kommer til politik (https://t.co/WEuNxkfwZp) og til ting såsom dating (https://t.co/7Q5DwYLpiS) [2/4]

Jun 18, 2021 · 11 likes · 2 shares · 30,462 followers View post →
Michael Bang Petersen
@M_B_Petersen · X

@HumanomicsMap Her er en række referencer: https://t.co/HryUXDp6Fu https://t.co/kmDQwiRC75 https://t.co/CtQjLfmnvj https://t.co/6j7WRBDGf0 https://t.co/emDIHYPwbq https://t.co/xE16JLfii3 (1/2)

Jan 19, 2022 · 9 likes · 1 share · 30,462 followers View post →
Joshua Tucker
@j_a_tucker · X

@cbarrie Try networks instead of text: (1) https://t.co/D2QusHY3Vk (2) https://t.co/cgR0TQs8mn (3) https://t.co/sFcNOlQm2K

Mar 1, 2023 · 7 likes · 7,794 followers View post →
Ian Shapiro
@IonShapiro · X

@AndrewYang https://t.co/4pZoJJDvHD The evidence suggests, if anything, it's the other way around with liberals more likely to engage cross-cutting dialogue.

Jun 28, 2019 · 7 likes · 1,089 followers View post →
Brendan Nyhan (@BrendanNyhan on
@BrendanNyhan · X

@william__brady @Chrismartin76 @andyguess You mean retweet networks? Sure politics correlated within such networks but you have to account for the denominator - all the news and info people are exposed to. Evidence growing that echo chamber effects overstated even on Twitter - see e.g. https://t.co/cuv6jD1ZdQ.

Jan 5, 2019 · 3 likes · 79,851 followers View post →
Yuuko Morimoto
@myuuko · X

Twitter上でのエコーチェンバーの程度は過大視されているかもよという2015年の研究。政治の話は意見の似た人同士で会話しているけど，テーマによっては国民的議論にもなる。/ Tweeting From Left to Right: Is Online Political Communication More Than an Echo Chamber? https://t.co/LgQECkwNcD

Aug 16, 2022 · 3 likes · 1 share · 9,277 followers View post →

All mentions

Alberto Acerbi
@acerbialberto · X

@niespika @phl43 For weak echo chambers on social media https://t.co/boQGS4OnGM

Nov 1, 2024 · 2 likes · 5,759 followers View post →
Bob
@fluxcapdoodah · X

RT @M_B_Petersen: @HumanomicsMap Her er en række referencer: https://t.co/HryUXDp6Fu https://t.co/kmDQwiRC75 https://t.co/CtQjLfmnvj ht…

Jun 27, 2024 · 1 share · 687 followers View post →
Babylon Slim
@babylon_slim · X

@LacyAutoStyling @genzmom5 @charliekirk11 https://t.co/zDeBzbPimM

Apr 21, 2023 · 3,964 followers View post →
Jim Bloom
@jimmyroybloom · X

Tweeting From Left to Right: Is Online Political Communication More Than an Echo Chamber? - Pablo Barberá, John T. Jost, Jonathan Nagler, Joshua A. Tucker, Richard Bonneau, 2015 https://t.co/1ZFkCQ2FTj

Mar 11, 2023 · 2,467 followers View post →
Eric Knowles
@eric_knowles · X

Source for asymmetrical dissemination: https://t.co/7h3Mzb10Za

Mar 1, 2023 · 2 likes · 4,352 followers View post →
Joshua Tucker
@j_a_tucker · X

@cbarrie Try networks instead of text: (1) https://t.co/D2QusHY3Vk (2) https://t.co/cgR0TQs8mn (3) https://t.co/sFcNOlQm2K

Mar 1, 2023 · 7 likes · 7,794 followers View post →
mammy999
@dddvdgaarunara · X

RT @myuuko: Twitter上でのエコーチェンバーの程度は過大視されているかもよという2015年の研究。政治の話は意見の似た人同士で会話しているけど，テーマによっては国民的議論にもなる。/ Tweeting From Left to Right: Is Online…

Aug 16, 2022 · 1 share · 294 followers View post →
Yuuko Morimoto
@myuuko · X

Twitter上でのエコーチェンバーの程度は過大視されているかもよという2015年の研究。政治の話は意見の似た人同士で会話しているけど，テーマによっては国民的議論にもなる。/ Tweeting From Left to Right: Is Online Political Communication More Than an Echo Chamber? https://t.co/LgQECkwNcD

Aug 16, 2022 · 3 likes · 1 share · 9,277 followers View post →
Kazuhiro Takemoto
@kztakemoto · X

Tweeting From Left to Right: Is Online Political Communication More Than an Echo Chamber? - Pablo Barberá, John T. Jost, Jonathan Nagler, Joshua A. Tucker, Richard Bonneau, 2015 https://t.co/l7c6iJyQqw

Jul 29, 2022 · 1,370 followers View post →
Michael Bang Petersen
@M_B_Petersen · X

@HumanomicsMap Her er en række referencer: https://t.co/HryUXDp6Fu https://t.co/kmDQwiRC75 https://t.co/CtQjLfmnvj https://t.co/6j7WRBDGf0 https://t.co/emDIHYPwbq https://t.co/xE16JLfii3 (1/2)

Jan 19, 2022 · 9 likes · 1 share · 30,462 followers View post →
Julian Christensen
@julianhupka · X

RT @M_B_Petersen: Ekkokamre findes. Men forskningen tyder i stigende grad på, at ekkokamre findes *offline* (https://t.co/hDkDwl89iv), mens…

Jun 18, 2021 · 2 shares · 814 followers View post →
Merete Konnerup
@MereteKonnerup · X

RT @M_B_Petersen: Ekkokamre findes. Men forskningen tyder i stigende grad på, at ekkokamre findes *offline* (https://t.co/hDkDwl89iv), mens…

Jun 18, 2021 · 2 shares · 235 followers View post →
Michael Bang Petersen
@M_B_Petersen · X

Ekkokamre findes. Men forskningen tyder i stigende grad på, at ekkokamre findes *offline* (https://t.co/hDkDwl89iv), mens at internettet nedbryder ekkokamre, både når det kommer til politik (https://t.co/WEuNxkfwZp) og til ting såsom dating (https://t.co/7Q5DwYLpiS) [2/4]

Jun 18, 2021 · 11 likes · 2 shares · 30,462 followers View post →
Andy Guess
@andyguess · X

@JakeMGrumbach @thinkinthemorn_ @BradSpahn right, Q is what the effect of exposure to the other side does. and to your point, what’s going on offline as the counterfactual baseline is important. some other papers I’d add: https://t.co/qz2CfRNMdz https://t.co/6V06SRzXEY https://t.co/o5FJpV5Ebp https://t.co/YSWfY5PLP4

Mar 24, 2021 · 3 likes · 5,295 followers View post →
Harrison Swinhoe
@HarrySwinhoe · X

Articles about the extent to which social media produces echo chambers and the impact this may have. https://t.co/k0TzKuqKO6; https://t.co/RUQwAJjD8B

Mar 10, 2021 · 324 followers View post →
Pete
@post_liberal · X

RT @acerbialberto: Then there is research by @p_barbera et al., showing that polarisation is not a general phenomenon but depends on the to…

Feb 24, 2021 · 1 share · 9,644 followers View post →
Anis BT
@MonkeyDeezNutzs · X

@eiluke @kommizecke161 Du hast dir grad selber ins Knie geschossen, well done clown. "Online social communities become fragmented by echo chambers when like-minded people group together and members hear arguments in one specific direction with no counter argument addressed." https://t.co/JQkPuiBywc

Jan 16, 2021 · 1 followers View post →
AH!
@irlSobbing · X

My topic was, “Tweeting from left to right: is online political communication more than an echo chamber?”

Jan 7, 2021 · 3 likes · 1,389 followers View post →
Fábio Takahashi
@tak_fabio · X

@_danielmariani Olá, Renato. A gente não disponibilizou, mas tem no Github do Pablo Barberá, que criou o algoritmo. O artigo dele é o "Tweeting From Left to Right: Is Online Political Communication More Than an Echo Chamber" (não sei o motivo, deu erro quando tentei colocar o endereço direto)

Nov 16, 2020 · 3 likes · 4,525 followers View post →
Dr. Keith R. Brunt
@prof_brunt · X

Social media, the content makers might appear to create polarization, yet the power of polarized influence is potentially overstated for the vast amount of observers/viewers. Huh, that’s unexpected and yet a bit comforting. https://t.co/URp0q3OfCm

Jul 21, 2020 · 1 like · 2,534 followers View post →
ایلیوشا
@mhghotbi · X

@mhgolikani @a_amirifar @soleimany_ir نه، با یه مدل unsupervised. اینجا کامل مدلشو گفته: https://t.co/6xdsQtsfIE

Jul 12, 2020 · 878 followers View post →
Sander Wagner
@sanderwagner · X

Do liberals or conservatives live in more of a twitter echo chamber? Barbera et al (2015) provides some answers with this graph showing the estimated rate of cross-ideological rting (1 means equal amount of liberal and conservative author RTs) https://t.co/Ftcc5YVURI https://t.co/pj6nsjMPy1

Jul 1, 2020 · 1 like · 4,442 followers View post →
Karolina Urbanska
@karo_urb · X

@dannagal @PoliPsyProf The consequences of political communication moving to social media is a big one. Some examples (not necessarily from pol com: (1) https://t.co/nGzFhOWkni, (2) https://t.co/zWiW9LsITn (3) https://t.co/9e8hSU9v75

Jun 23, 2020 · 2 likes · 2,107 followers View post →
Josephine Lehaff
@JosephineLehaff · X

@RasmusHMoller @larsaliciously Barberá, P., Jost, J. T., Nagler, J., Tucker, J. A., & Bonneau, R. (2015). Tweeting from left to right: Is online political communication more than an echo chamber? Psychological Science, 26(10), 1531–1542. https://t.co/ERdEAcnVZ7

Jun 22, 2020 · 2,078 followers View post →
Alberto Acerbi
@acerbialberto · X

Then there is research by @p_barbera et al., showing that polarisation is not a general phenomenon but depends on the topic, or even that the usage of social media is associated to a *decrease* in political polarisation 6/8 https://t.co/nE3zhrtwEC https://t.co/boQGS4OnGM

Dec 19, 2019 · 3 likes · 1 share · 5,759 followers View post →
Spend the Planet
@spendtheplanet · X

Misinformation is of great concern, news agencies are blatantly biased(https://t.co/ZzFpRa6eEo), political based social media creates echo chambers where dissenting thought is discouraged (https://t.co/6BeX1M5ZFi), and foreign interest groups attempting to spin local politics.

Nov 14, 2019 View post →
Matt Rocklage
@mrocklage · X

Data: ~90 mil tweets across 30,000 users. Every single tweet from each user across the past year Text analysis tool: Evaluative Lexicon (https://t.co/mlQpv1krY8) Political ideology measure: https://t.co/ioZ0Tt38vb

Sep 17, 2019 · 1 like · 451 followers View post →
こーだい@アブダビ
@kodai_kusano · X

@gentsudaka I know but see these: https://t.co/mCXzisMW0m https://t.co/rbdcHULXdA

Jul 6, 2019 · 3,582 followers View post →
Ian Shapiro
@IonShapiro · X

@AndrewYang https://t.co/4pZoJJDvHD The evidence suggests, if anything, it's the other way around with liberals more likely to engage cross-cutting dialogue.

Jun 28, 2019 · 7 likes · 1,089 followers View post →
Brendan Nyhan (@BrendanNyhan on
@BrendanNyhan · X

@william__brady @Chrismartin76 @andyguess You mean retweet networks? Sure politics correlated within such networks but you have to account for the denominator - all the news and info people are exposed to. Evidence growing that echo chamber effects overstated even on Twitter - see e.g. https://t.co/cuv6jD1ZdQ.

Jan 5, 2019 · 3 likes · 79,851 followers View post →