3/6 We show that when politicians intervene in public debates surrounding policy relevant events (mass shootings), other users engage in more tribal and partisan posts.
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1. describe when and how politicians intervene in public debates: they do not respond to timeline of event or debate, timing of posts by media, other influencers or politicians. This lends credence to a causal interpretation of our results
5/6
2. we show that when politicians intervene, public debates become more tribal and partisan. Crucially: much more so when politicians themselves supply partisan and tribal rhetoric in their own posts.
6/6 Our analysis points to politicians offering a partisan lense through which to look at policy-relevant events. Users who join the debate after politicians intervene are then induced to look at these events though the partisan polarized lenses offered by politicians.
Comments
1. describe when and how politicians intervene in public debates: they do not respond to timeline of event or debate, timing of posts by media, other influencers or politicians. This lends credence to a causal interpretation of our results
2. we show that when politicians intervene, public debates become more tribal and partisan. Crucially: much more so when politicians themselves supply partisan and tribal rhetoric in their own posts.