Partisans Not Locked in Media ‘Echo Chambers,’ Study Finds
PARTISANS NOT LOCKED IN MEDIA ‘ECHO CHAMBERS,’ STUDY FINDS
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Despite the fears of some scholars and pundits, most political partisans don’t avoid news and opinion sources that contradict their own beliefs, according to a new study.
In fact, the more that self-described liberals and conservatives visited online sources supportive of their beliefs, the more likely they were to also view opposition websites, as well as general news sites.
“People aren’t systematically avoiding websites that challenge their political views,” said R. Kelly Garrett, co-author of the new study and assistant professor of communication at Ohio State University.
“They certainly are inclined to seek out sources that reinforce their views, but the more they do that, the more likely they are to at least sample sources that challenge their opinion.”
Kelly Garrett