The Activation Effect

How Social Media Shape Public Opinion

Anne Sofie Cornelius Nielsen

• Publisher: De Gruyter
• Year: 2026
• eBook ISBN:
  9783111714875
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Index: Social Sciences

The Activation Effect provides an understanding of how immigration-related attitudes are formed, shaped, and influenced by various societal and political forces. By framing the research in the context of rising populism and the evolving role of social media, Anne Nielsen draws attention to how democratic processes can be impacted by shifts in public opinion and political narratives surrounding immigration. She explores the broader implications of immigration discourse on democratic stability, outlines how public attitudes can become polarized and discusses the role that social media plays in amplifying or mitigating these divisions. Through an in-depth analysis of the ways in which immigration has been politicized, The Activation Effect is a critical investigation into the tension between democratic ideals and the strategies used by political actors to influence public sentiment.

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Frontmatter
• Dedication
• Contents
• List of abbreviations
• About the author and the series editor
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Social media’s impact on immigration attitudes: A review
• 3 The importance of values
• 4 Political communication on social media
• 5 Framing and priming immigration through targeted social media ads
• 6 Private versus public attitudes
• 7 Conclusion
• Index