What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to explore how the effectiveness of political messages varies based on the platform where they are seen.

Pushed to the edge: When radical political messages persuade more on social media.

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

Randomized trials investigate political message persuasiveness on social media and news websites, suggesting platform effects influence persuasion.

This research aims to explore how the effectiveness of political messages varies based on the platform where they are seen.
Conducted two preregistered experiments with a total of 477 participants (N=208 and N=269).
Examined the impact of political message style (moderate vs. radical) across social media and legacy news platforms.
Analyzed the role of heuristic information processing in message persuasion.
Moderate messages are more persuasive on legacy news websites, showing a significant preference effect.
Radical but congruent messages yield higher persuasion rates on social media, indicating platform-dependent dynamics.
Heuristic processing mediates the effect, meaning people rely on simpler cues in social media environments.

Brahim Zarouali (2026) studied this question.

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Randomized trials investigate political message persuasiveness on social media and news websites, suggesting platform effects influence persuasion.