Document Type
Article
Abstract
In established autocracies, political control and support are integral to maintaining the regime. In an effort to do this, autocracies use media as a tool to persuade and manipulate public opinion in a favorable light. Negative media and messages are not tolerated as it threatens the legitimacy and continuation of the regime. The purpose of this study is to empirically evaluate the effects of social media and online news consumption on support for political institutions and overall satisfaction. This study will use hierarchical linear modeling to analyze data from the World Values Survey to test the hypothesis that social media and online media will negatively impact support for the regime. The results find that digital media viewership produces negative effects on regime support. In contrast, traditional media shows mixed effects on regime support, with television producing the most consistent support for the regime. Traditional media remains under strict regime control, allowing only positive assessments of government actions and results. The results of this study could allow for a broader understanding of undermining the authority of autocratic regimes as democratic messages are seen. The effects of the expansion of the internet and social media in these countries could threaten the legitimacy and control that has been maintained through state-owned and censored media.
Editor Comments Review
Recommended Citation
Stokes, Makayla M. and Placek, Matthew
(2025)
"Media Effects on Political Confidence in Autocratic Regimes,"
University of South Carolina Upstate Student Research Journal: Vol. 18, Article 1.
Available at:
https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/uscusrj/vol18/iss1/1