Politically Motivated Internet Addiction: Relationships among Online Information Exposure, Internet Addiction, FOMO, Psychological Well-being, and Radicalism in Massive Political Turbulence

• Main Authors: Gary Tang, Eva P. W. Hung, Ho-Kong Christopher Au-Yeung, Samson Yuen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-01-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: internet addiction; depression; radicalization; social movement; hong kong
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/2/633
• ISSN: 1660-4601

This research examines the mediating role of the tendency for Internet addiction, fear of missing out (FOMO), and psychological well-being in the relationship between online exposure to movement-related information and support for radical actions. A questionnaire survey that targets tertiary students was conducted during the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill (Anti-ELAB) Movement (N = 290). The findings reveal the mediating effect of Internet addiction and depression as the main relationship. These findings enrich the literature of political communication by addressing the political impact of Internet use beyond digital architecture. From the perspective of psychology, this research echoes the literature that concerns depression symptoms driven by a protest environment. Radical political attitudes driven by depression during protests should also be concerned based on the findings of this survey.