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Digital Political Talk and Political Participation: Comparing Established and Third Wave Democracies

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  • Cristian Vaccari
  • Augusto Valeriani

Abstract

We investigate whether and how informal political talk on digital media contributes to citizens’ political participation with unique surveys based on samples representative of Internet users in seven Western democracies. We show that political talk on both social networking sites and mobile instant messaging platforms is positively associated with institutional and extra-institutional political participation. However, the relationship between talk on social networking sites and both types of participation is significantly stronger in established democracies (Denmark, France, United Kingdom, and United States) than in “third wave†democracies (Greece, Poland, and Spain). By contrast, the strength of the relationship between political talk on mobile instant messaging platforms and participation is not significantly different when comparing established and more recent democracies. These findings suggest that informal political talk on digital platforms can contribute to citizens’ participatory repertoires and that different institutional settings, in combination with different technological affordances, play an important role in shaping these patterns.

Suggested Citation

  • Cristian Vaccari & Augusto Valeriani, 2018. "Digital Political Talk and Political Participation: Comparing Established and Third Wave Democracies," SAGE Open, , vol. 8(2), pages 21582440187, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:sagope:v:8:y:2018:i:2:p:2158244018784986
    DOI: 10.1177/2158244018784986
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    2. Franziska Marquart & Andreas C Goldberg & Claes H de Vreese, 2020. "‘This time I’m (not) voting’: A comprehensive overview of campaign factors influencing turnout at European Parliament elections," European Union Politics, , vol. 21(4), pages 680-705, December.
    3. Brigitte Huber & Manuel Goyanes & Homero Gil de Zúñiga, 2021. "Linking Extraversion to Collective and Individual Forms of Political Participation: The Mediating Role of Political Discussion," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 102(4), pages 1289-1310, July.
    4. Sha, Yezhou & Qiao, Lu & Li, Suyang & Bu, Ziwen, 2021. "Political freedom and earnings management," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    5. Lorena Liçenji, 2023. "The Role of Social Media on Electoral Strategy: An Examination of the 2023 Municipal Elections in Tirana, Albania," Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, Richtmann Publishing Ltd, vol. 12, November.
    6. Tchapo Gbandi & Yawo Agbényégan Noglo & Komivi Afawubo & Kwami Ossadzifo Wonyra & Victor Nyatefe, 2025. "The Impact of Online Activism on Civic Engagement in Sub‐Saharan Africa," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 37(3), September.
    7. Daniela Stockmann & Ting Luo, 2026. "Online Political Discussion Under Authoritarianism: What Do Citizens Make of Censored Political Discussion?," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 20(1), pages 105-118, January.

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