An Examination of the Impact of Astroturfing on Nationalism: A Persuasion Knowledge Perspective
One communication approach that lately has become more common is astroturfing, which has been more prominent since the proliferation of social media platforms. In this context, astroturfing is a fake grass-roots political campaign that aims to manipulate a certain audience. This exploratory research...
Main Authors: | , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2019-01-01
|
Series: | Social Sciences |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/8/2/38 |
id |
doaj-89e37b01dba74d989bf776474f45de69 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-89e37b01dba74d989bf776474f45de692020-11-25T01:59:03ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602019-01-01823810.3390/socsci8020038socsci8020038An Examination of the Impact of Astroturfing on Nationalism: A Persuasion Knowledge PerspectiveKenneth M. Henrie0Christian Gilde1Stiller School of Business, Champlain College, Burlington, VT 05401, USADepartment of Business and Technology, University of Montana Western, Dillon, MT 59725, USAOne communication approach that lately has become more common is astroturfing, which has been more prominent since the proliferation of social media platforms. In this context, astroturfing is a fake grass-roots political campaign that aims to manipulate a certain audience. This exploratory research examined how effective astroturfing is in mitigating citizens’ natural defenses against politically persuasive messages. An experimental method was used to examine the persuasiveness of social media messages related to coal energy in their ability to persuade citizens’, and increase their level of nationalism. The results suggest that citizens are more likely to be persuaded by an astroturfed message than people who are exposed to a non-astroturfed message, regardless of their political leanings. However, the messages were not successful in altering an individual’s nationalistic views at the moment of exposure. The authors discuss these findings and propose how in a long-term context, astroturfing is a dangerous addition to persuasive communication.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/8/2/38astroturfingpersuasion knowledgenationalismcoal energysocial media |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Kenneth M. Henrie Christian Gilde |
spellingShingle |
Kenneth M. Henrie Christian Gilde An Examination of the Impact of Astroturfing on Nationalism: A Persuasion Knowledge Perspective Social Sciences astroturfing persuasion knowledge nationalism coal energy social media |
author_facet |
Kenneth M. Henrie Christian Gilde |
author_sort |
Kenneth M. Henrie |
title |
An Examination of the Impact of Astroturfing on Nationalism: A Persuasion Knowledge Perspective |
title_short |
An Examination of the Impact of Astroturfing on Nationalism: A Persuasion Knowledge Perspective |
title_full |
An Examination of the Impact of Astroturfing on Nationalism: A Persuasion Knowledge Perspective |
title_fullStr |
An Examination of the Impact of Astroturfing on Nationalism: A Persuasion Knowledge Perspective |
title_full_unstemmed |
An Examination of the Impact of Astroturfing on Nationalism: A Persuasion Knowledge Perspective |
title_sort |
examination of the impact of astroturfing on nationalism: a persuasion knowledge perspective |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Social Sciences |
issn |
2076-0760 |
publishDate |
2019-01-01 |
description |
One communication approach that lately has become more common is astroturfing, which has been more prominent since the proliferation of social media platforms. In this context, astroturfing is a fake grass-roots political campaign that aims to manipulate a certain audience. This exploratory research examined how effective astroturfing is in mitigating citizens’ natural defenses against politically persuasive messages. An experimental method was used to examine the persuasiveness of social media messages related to coal energy in their ability to persuade citizens’, and increase their level of nationalism. The results suggest that citizens are more likely to be persuaded by an astroturfed message than people who are exposed to a non-astroturfed message, regardless of their political leanings. However, the messages were not successful in altering an individual’s nationalistic views at the moment of exposure. The authors discuss these findings and propose how in a long-term context, astroturfing is a dangerous addition to persuasive communication. |
topic |
astroturfing persuasion knowledge nationalism coal energy social media |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/8/2/38 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT kennethmhenrie anexaminationoftheimpactofastroturfingonnationalismapersuasionknowledgeperspective AT christiangilde anexaminationoftheimpactofastroturfingonnationalismapersuasionknowledgeperspective AT kennethmhenrie examinationoftheimpactofastroturfingonnationalismapersuasionknowledgeperspective AT christiangilde examinationoftheimpactofastroturfingonnationalismapersuasionknowledgeperspective |
_version_ |
1724966204659990528 |