Understanding the effects of social news use on citizen participation among young Singaporean adults: A communication mediation model approach

Abstract

ABSTRACT Adopting the Orientation–Stimuli–Reasoning–Orientation – Response (OSROR) communication mediation framework, this survey study examines the mediating roles of communication processes and political orientations on the relationship between social news consumption and offline/online citizen participation among young adults in Singapore. Findings through regression and mediation analyses indicate that the relationship between social news consumption and offline/online citizen participation was mediated by communication processes in social news production and interpersonal discussion, as well as efficacy. Social news participation only mediated the relationship between social news consumption and online citizen participation, whereas public affairs knowledge was not found to have a significant effect on either citizen participatory measure. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.