Political Resources and Online Political Hostility: How and Why Hostility Is More Prevalent Among the Resourceful

Rasmussen, Stig H. R., Mathias Osmundsen, and Michael Bang Petersen. 2022. “Political Resources and Online Political Hostility: How and Why Hostility Is More Prevalent Among the Resourceful.” PsyArXiv. February 2. psyarxiv.com/tp93r

Abstract: Toxicity and hostility permeate political debates on social media, but who is responsible? Canonical theories of political engagement equate political resources with being a “model democratic citizen.” In contrast, we develop the theoretical argument that in the current polarized political climate, those same resources come to motivate hostile engagement. Combining two years of survey and behavioral Twitter data, we provide empirical support for a link between political resources and online political hostility. This link is especially pronounced among citizens high in affective polarization -- a trait held by many resourceful citizens in current US society. Concerningly, resourceful but hateful social media users do not simply cater to fringe audiences. Rather, they dominate online debates by tweeting more frequently, having more friends and followers, and by occupying powerful positions in their online networks. The present findings thus shed important light on the causes and consequences of online political hostility.