Abstract Taiwan officially legalised same-sex marriage in 2019. However, this milestone was preceded by a 2018 referendum in which the majority opposed the reform, revealing a puzzling shift in public attitudes during the preceding years that is corroborated by opinion poll data. This study seeks to explain that shift by analysing the role of party preference and digital media use in shaping voter behaviour within a politically polarised environment dominated by anti–same-sex marriage discourse. It finds that voters most inclined to oppose same-sex marriage were pan-blue camp supporters active in online communities as frequent posters and independent voters who regularly consumed political content online. Notably, among independent voters, those who engaged in frequent online fact-checking were more likely to support same-sex marriage, suggesting that critical engagement with digital media can counter the effects of polarising narratives. The findings underscore the influence of digital media on public opinion and highlight the pivotal yet often overlooked role of independent voters in referendums.
Shou‐Shing Hsieh (Tue,) studied this question.