Political Disaffection in the Digital Age: The Use of Social Media and the Gap in Internal and External Efficacy

AUTHORS

Pedro Fierro, Patricio Aroca, and Patricio Navia

JOURNAL

Social Science Computer Review

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/08944393221087940

ISSN: 0894-4393

ABSTRACT

Recent works have coined the term Online Political Efficacy (OPE) to assess the impact of Internet use on the perceived political empowerment of citizens. As the classic concept of political efficacy distinguishes between internal (IPE) and external (EPE) efficacies, we seek to confirm the usefulness of a new indicator of political efficacy for online engagement and assess the impact of the territory where people reside on OPE. Although OPE is mostly explained by the same determinants that account for IPE, the center-periphery divide influences OPE and IPE in opposite directions. Those who reside in the territorial—and political—periphery believe more strongly that they can use Internet to participate in public affairs (OPE), though they do not feel more competent in doing so (IPE). The democratizing power of Internet helps bridge the center-periphery social and political territorial divide.

KEYWORDS

Political efficacy, social media, attitudinal gap, civic engagement, Internet