Study: Social media debates aren't pointless, some actually change minds

Social media debates can seem full of trolls, time wasting, headaches, and heartaches, but theses online arguments may be more productive than you thought.

So say Dr. Jayeon Lee of Lehigh University and Dr. Teresa A. Meyers of George Mason University in their study, “Can Social Media Change Your Mind? SNS Use, Cross-cutting Exposure and Discussion, and Political View Change.” The researchers looked to Pew Research Center data where people self-reported their Internet habits, and if they changed their mind after such interactions.

New York Magazine pointed to some highlights, including how researchers found that 684 respondents had been “exposed to a political opinion they did not agree with” on social media. The researchers also noted:

Even when a person [isn’t explicitly seeking out information of one sort or another], if the person stumbles into a cross-cutting political discussion while using SNS, he or she has a high possibility of experiencing political view change or increased issue involvement. Likewise, even without cross-cutting discussion, if an SNS user is motivated for information, he or she is likely to experience political view change or issue involvement.

They also mentioned:

…However, even for these consonant information-seekers, engaging in cross-cutting political discussion has a strong deliberation effect such that they are significantly more likely to change their original views and get more involved in the issue of discussion than those who are not engaged in cross-cutting discussion.

Such findings may suggest it’s those are motivated for information who are likely to change their mind. It’s not the same as people just looking for a fight or to troll a comments section on Facebook or Twitter, but it may suggest the more reasonable-minded users may be open to change.

And, as New York Magazine added, with original emphasis:

In other words, the stereotype of people going online to argue simply for the sake of reinforcing their own views might be a bit overstated: Simply by virtue of exposing themselves to other views, some of these folks may end up being swayed a bit one way or another.

The piece closes by hoping “these dynamics aren’t preventing people from at least attempting to understand where the other side is coming from.” With the current election year and political atmosphere, it may be a bit much to ask for now.

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