Exploring the Spiral of Silence: Hardcore in Social Media Dynamics and the Moderating Influence of Fear of Isolation
The Spiral of Silence theory by Noelle Neumann (Neumann N. E., 1974) comes from an era of no social media. It discusses how people’s opinion is influenced by Fear of Isolation while forming a public opinion. The existing literature lacks the application of the Spiral of Silence to study social media dynamics. Most studies exist in traditional settings to study political cases and lack individuals' personal and social aspects. This study bridges this research gap by exploring the Spiral of Silence theory on social media and also revisits the concept of “The Hardcores” coined by Neumann. To explore new dimensions, new variables are adapted from the literature and the theory to determine the relation of Personal Opinion Strength and Willingness to Speak under the Moderation of Fear of Isolation. This research elucidates the dynamics of the expression of public opinion in this digital era and indicates further alternate dimensions.
-
Spiral of Silence, Fear of Isolation, Willingness to Speak, Hardcore, Perceived Social Support, Self-Censorship, Personal Opinion Strength
-
(1) Alishbah Naz
Independent Researcher, Pakistan.
(2) Mohsin Hassan Khan
Senior Assistant Professor, Department of Media Studies, Bahria University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
(3) Abdul Basit
Assistant Professor, School of Media and Communication Studies, University of Management and Technology Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
-
Ceron, A., Curini, L., Iacus, S. M., & Porro, G. (2012). Tweet your vote. How content analysis of social networks can improve our knowledge of citizens' policy preferences. An application to Italy and France. ., 1–21.
-
Cialdini, R. B., & Goldstein, N. J. (2004). Social influence: compliance and conformity. Annual Review of Psychology, 55(1), 591–621.
-
Crandall, H. M., & Ayres, J. (2008). Communication apprehension and the spiral of silence. Journal of Northwest Communication Association, 31, 27-39.
-
Dalisay, F., Hmielowski, J. D., Kushin, M. J., & Yamamoto, M. (2012). Social capital and the spiral of silence. International Journal of Public Opinion Research, 24(3), 325–345.
-
Darroch, J. (2010). Social media: giving a voice back to the people. In Palgrave Macmillan UK eBooks (pp. 30–38).
-
Gearhart, S., & Zhang, W. (2013). Gay bullying and online opinion expression. Social Science Computer Review, 32(1), 18–36.
-
Glynn, C. J., & McLeod, J. M. (1984). Public Opinion du Jour: An Examination of the Spiral of Silence. The Public Opinion Quarterly, 48(4), 731–740.
-
Hampton, K., Rainie, L., Lu, W., Dwyer, M., Shin, I., & Purcell, K. (2014). Social Media and the ‘Spiral of Silence’. Pew Research Center.
-
Heney, V. (2011). Isolated from the Fear of Isolation? Assessing the Relevance of the Spiral of Silence Theory in an Era of Online Communication.
-
Ho, S. S., & McLeod, D. M. (2008). Social-Psychological influences on opinion expression in Face-to-Face and Computer-Mediated communication. Communication Research, 35(2), 190–207.
-
Hochheimer, J. L., & Al-Emad, M. (2013). Social media in the Arab Spring: Hope and the Spiral of Voice. In BRILL eBooks (pp. 47–60).
-
Lang, K., & Lang, G. E. (2012). What is this Thing we Call Public Opinion? Reflections on the Spiral of Silence. International Journal of Public Opinion Research,
-
Lemin, D. (2010). PUBLIC OPINION IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA ERA: TOWARD A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF THE SPIRAL OF SILENCE. Gonzaga University.
-
Liu, X., & Fahmy, S. (2011). Exploring the spiral of silence in the virtual world: Individuals' willingness to express personal opinions in online versus offline settings. Journal of Media and Communication. 3, 45-57.
-
Malaspina, C. (2014). The spiral of silence and social media: Analysing Noelle-Neumann’sphenomenon application on the web during the Italian political elections of 2013. (MS), London School of Economics and Political Science.
-
McDevitt, M. (2003). Spiral of Moderation: Opinion Expression in Computer-Mediated Discussion. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 15(4), 454–470.
-
Moreno-Riano, G. (2002). Political tolerance, culture, and the individual. http://ci.nii.
-
Nagel, S. (2015). Public affairs, private lives: a study on the effect of Combat exposure on public affairs soldiers. In Submitted to MOspace by University of Missouri--Co
-
Nam, K. (2010). The effect of personality on the spiral of silence process.
-
Noelle-Neumann, E. (1974). The spiral of silence a theory of public opinion. Journal of Communication, 24(2), 43–51.
-
Neuwirth, K., Frederick, E., & Mayo, C. (2007). The spiral of silence and fear of isolation. Journal of Communication, 57(3), 450–468.
-
Oh, W. (2011). Willingness to speak out: comparison between online versus offline communication. Amsterdam: World Association for Public Opinion Research 64th annual conference.
-
Pritchard, D. (2002). Viewpoint Diversity in Cross-Owned Newspapers and Television Stations: A Study of News Coverage of the 2000 Presidential Campaign. Federal Communications Commission.
-
Schulz, A., & Roessler, P. (2012). The Spiral of Silence and the Internet: Selection of online content and the perception of the Public Opinion Climate in Computer-Mediat
-
Shanahan, J., Glynn, C., & Hayes, A. (2007). The Spiral of Silence: A Meta-Analysis and Its Impact. Mass media effects research: Advances through meta-analysis , 415-427.
-
Shen, F., Wang, N., Guo, Z., & Guo, L. (2009). Online Network Size, Efficacy, and Opinion Expression: Assessing the impacts of Internet use in China. International Journal of Public Opinion Research, 21(4), 451–476.
-
Turner, J., & Sparrow, N. (1997). Hearing the silence: the spiral of silence, parties and the media. Media, Culture & Society, 19(1), 121–131.
-
Wanta, W., & Dimitrova, D. (2000). Chatrooms and the spiral of silence: An examination of online discussions during the final 1996 U.S. presidential debate. International Communication Association.
-
Wolf, M., Sims, J., & Yang, H. (2018). Social media? What social media? In UKAIS, 3.
-
Yang, Y., & Su, Y. (2020). Public Voice via Social Media: Role in Cooperative Governance during Public Health Emergency. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health/International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17
-
Yun, G. W., & Park, S. (2011). Selective Posting: Willingness to post a message online. Journal of Computer-mediated Communication, 16(2), 201–227. <
-
Zuercher, R. (2008). .In my humble opinion: The spiral of silence in computer-mediated communication. Paper presented at the National Communication Association 94th Annual Convention. San Diego, CA.
Cite this article
-
APA : Naz, A., Khan, M. H., & Basit, A. (2024). Exploring the Spiral of Silence: Hardcore in Social Media Dynamics and the Moderating Influence of Fear of Isolation. Global Mass Communication Review, IX(II), 53-64. https://doi.org/10.31703/gmcr.2024(IX-II).05
-
CHICAGO : Naz, Alishbah, Mohsin Hassan Khan, and Abdul Basit. 2024. "Exploring the Spiral of Silence: Hardcore in Social Media Dynamics and the Moderating Influence of Fear of Isolation." Global Mass Communication Review, IX (II): 53-64 doi: 10.31703/gmcr.2024(IX-II).05
-
HARVARD : NAZ, A., KHAN, M. H. & BASIT, A. 2024. Exploring the Spiral of Silence: Hardcore in Social Media Dynamics and the Moderating Influence of Fear of Isolation. Global Mass Communication Review, IX, 53-64.
-
MHRA : Naz, Alishbah, Mohsin Hassan Khan, and Abdul Basit. 2024. "Exploring the Spiral of Silence: Hardcore in Social Media Dynamics and the Moderating Influence of Fear of Isolation." Global Mass Communication Review, IX: 53-64
-
MLA : Naz, Alishbah, Mohsin Hassan Khan, and Abdul Basit. "Exploring the Spiral of Silence: Hardcore in Social Media Dynamics and the Moderating Influence of Fear of Isolation." Global Mass Communication Review, IX.II (2024): 53-64 Print.
-
OXFORD : Naz, Alishbah, Khan, Mohsin Hassan, and Basit, Abdul (2024), "Exploring the Spiral of Silence: Hardcore in Social Media Dynamics and the Moderating Influence of Fear of Isolation", Global Mass Communication Review, IX (II), 53-64
-
TURABIAN : Naz, Alishbah, Mohsin Hassan Khan, and Abdul Basit. "Exploring the Spiral of Silence: Hardcore in Social Media Dynamics and the Moderating Influence of Fear of Isolation." Global Mass Communication Review IX, no. II (2024): 53-64. https://doi.org/10.31703/gmcr.2024(IX-II).05