Project _Meta analysis_Voting_03092024

What is the effect of social media use on voting behavior? While widely studied, the evidence remains mixed and often confounded with broader measures of political participation. This meta-analysis provides the first focused synthesis of the relationship between social media use and voting behavior specifically defined as turnout, intention, registration, or choice. We analyze data from 36 independent studies (k = 36), comprising 104 effects and over 81 million respondents across 24 countries, using multilevel random-effects models to account for within- and between-study variance. Results show a small but statistically significant positive overall association between social media use and voting (Fisher's z = 0.054, 95% CI [0.023, 0.086], p < .001). However, this relationship is highly conditional. The association is significantly stronger for active engagement compared to passive consumption and in countries with higher internet penetration, and the effect has evolved over time, reflecting changes in the digital media environment. These findings suggest that the impact of social media on electoral participation is modest and context dependent.