Does Serendipity Affect Democratic Consequences? Examining the Role of Algorithmic Awareness, Intolerance of Uncertainty in Incidental News Exposure and Online Political Participation

Abstract In the context of social media becoming users' primary access to information, such as news, incidental news exposure under the influence of algorithmic recommendation and its democratic consequences are worth studying. While studies on the relationship between social media users’ incidental news exposure and online political participation have been widely explored, we know little about the current mechanisms of variable association in the context of algorithmic recommendations. This study examines the mediating role of algorithmic awareness and the moderating effect of intolerance of uncertainty on the relationship between incidental news exposure and online political participation among Chinese social media users. Findings indicate that algorithmic awareness negatively mediates this relationship, suggesting that users’ participation in online politics is heightened by their awareness of algorithmic curation. Intolerance of uncertainty positively moderates the link between incidental news exposure and online political participation, emphasizing the impact of personality traits on democratic engagement. This study underscores the importance of transparent algorithmic systems and user-centred design in fostering informed citizen participation in the digital era and offers a comprehensive perspective on the role of serendipity in Chinese democratic participation.