To explain the participatory effects of news exposure, communication scholars have long relied upon the “virtuous circle” framework of media use and civic participation. That is, news consumption makes people more knowledgeable, and trustful toward institutions and political processes, making them active and responsible citizens, which then leads them to engage in various political activities. In a social media environment, however, the applicability of the “virtuous circle” is increasingly dubious. A mounting body of empirical research indicates that news consumption via social media does not necessarily yield actual information gains. Instead, it often fosters a false perception of being well-informed and politically competent, thereby stimulating political engagement. Furthermore, selective information consumption and interaction within like-minded networks on social media frequently exacerbate animosity toward opposing political factions, which can serve as a catalyst for political involvement. In light of these findings, we propose replacing the “virtuous circle” framework for a “self-righteous” one. In this new model, social media news users develop a heightened sense of confidence in their knowledge, regardless of its accuracy, and consequently become more inclined to engage in politics by reinforcing the perception that the opposing side is inherently wrong and that achieving victory is imperative.

中文翻译：

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自以为是的循环，而不是良性的循环：提出一个研究社交媒体环境中媒体对知识和政治参与的影响的新框架


为了解释新闻曝光的参与效应，传播学者长期以来依赖媒体使用和公民参与的“良性循环”框架。也就是说，新闻消费使人们更加了解，对制度和政治进程更加信任，使他们成为积极和负责任的公民，从而引导他们参与各种政治活动。然而，在社交媒体环境中，“良性循环”的适用性越来越令人怀疑。越来越多的实证研究表明，通过社交媒体进行的新闻消费并不一定会产生实际的信息增益。相反，它常常会让人产生一种消息灵通、政治能力强的错误观念，从而刺激政治参与。此外，社交媒体上志同道合的网络内的选择性信息消费和互动经常加剧对对立政治派别的敌意，这可以成为政治参与的催化剂。根据这些发现，我们建议用“自以为是”的框架取代“良性循环”框架。在这种新模式中，社交媒体新闻用户对自己的知识产生了更高的信心，无论其准确性如何，因此变得更倾向于参与政治，强化“对方本质上是错误的”以及取得胜利势在必行的观念。 。