Political socialization
Media
### Media

[Mass media](/wiki/Mass_media "Mass media") is not only a source of political information; it is an influence on political values and beliefs. The culmination of information gained from entertainment becomes the values and standards by which people judge. Most people choose what media they are exposed to based on their already existing values, and they use information from the media to reaffirm what they already believe. From news coverage and late\-night programs, to exposure to social media apps, present varying political stances that are often associated with increasing political participation. However literature suggests that media coverage increasingly motivates users to delve into politics, as media outlets are leaning toward what stories will get them more views and engagement.Martin, Gregory and Josh McCrain. 2019\. “Local News and National Politics,” American Political Science Review, 113(2\), p. 372  In turn, suggesting that having more political motives and financial motives presents more partisanship polarization if it means they will have an increase in [viewership](/wiki/Viewership "Viewership"). These reinforced segments that bring more viewership have been proven to be more likely for individuals to rewatch or pay for reinforcing congruent evidence.Gentzkow, Matthew and Jesse M. Shapiro. 2010\. “What Drives Media Slant? Evidence from U.S. Daily Newspapers,” Econometrica V78 p. 35\-71\. Suggesting that reinforced media segments become confirmatory evidence that continuously polarizes biased political information.  This has become the perfect environment to enhance [partisan polarization](/wiki/Political_polarization "Political polarization") among voters through national outlets that reinforce extremist positions. These extremist positions have consistently found their way into partisan positions that have moved both parties towards supporting more extremist values, increasing mass partisan polarization. Ultimately, however, the common core of information, and the interpretation the media applies to it, leads to a shared knowledge and basic values throughout a given entity. Most media entertainment and information does not vary much throughout the country, and it is consumed by all types of audiences. Although there are still disagreements and different political beliefs and party affiliations, generally there are not huge ideological disparities among the population because the media helps create a broad [consensus](/wiki/Consensus_decision-making "Consensus decision-making") on basic US democratic principles.Overall, the increase in the media market demand for viewership has encouraged more polarized political discourse, and with advancing technologies, our dependency on the Internet and the media's vulnerability will only continue increasing. In turn, making it more vital in addressing the threat misinformation holds to the integrity of [democracy](/wiki/Democracy "Democracy").

* **Print Media:** In the case of [print media](/wiki/Print_media "Print media"), it is the oldest form of political socialization of media, as this includes books and poems. and [newspapers](/wiki/Newspaper "Newspaper"). Until 1900, after the invention of radio, print media was the primary way individuals received information that shaped their political attitudes and beliefs. Studies show two\-thirds of newspaper readers do not know their newspaper's position on specific issues\- and most media stories are quickly forgotten. Older people read more newspapers than younger people, and people from the ages of twelve to seventeen (although they consume the most media) consume the least amount of news.
* **Broadcast Media**: Media influence in political socialization continues with both fictional and factual media sources. Adults have increased exposure to news and political information embedded in entertainment; fictional entertainment (mostly television) is the most common source of political information. The most common form of [broadcast media](/wiki/Broadcasting "Broadcasting") is television and radio, increasing attention to politics as people become more informed with information and beliefs shaping political attitudes. Studies on public opinion of the Bush administration's energy policies show that the public pays more attention to issues that receive a lot of media coverage and form collective opinions about these issues. This demonstrates that the mass media's attention to an issue affects public opinion. More so, extensive exposure to television has led to "[mainstreaming](/wiki/Mainstream_media "Mainstream media")," aligning people's perception of political life and society with television's portrayal of it.
* **Digital Media:** Digital media, such as YouTube, Vimeo, and Twitch, accounted for viewership rates of 27\.9 billion hours in 2020\. examples of digital media include content created, distributed, and viewed on a given platform that one views from a digital electronic device. In turn, increases political polarization, with the recommended algorithms that confine users to echo chambers and content they agree with and enjoy while also increasing their political polarization.Levy, G., \& Razin, R. (2019\). Echo chambers and their effects on economic and political outcomes. *Annual Review of Economics*, *11*, 303\-328\.
* **Social Media:** The role of social media in political socialization, from scrolling on TikTok to checking the trending page on Twitter, has increasingly become powerful in presenting news and varying political perspectives. This shows political socialization at the palm of your hand with the constant production of new content, bringing a new variable in its infancy and shaping how people establish their political beliefs.Seppälä, M. (2022\). Creative Political Participation on TikTok during the 2020 US Presidential Election. *At the Breaking Point: Media and Politics in the 2020 US Presidential Election*, 84\. The media has significantly increased the number of users who cover relevant political information, increasing exposure to political discourse. These platforms have created the perfect environment for individuals to be presented with and reinforce their beliefs through the advancing programming of echo chambers. Algorithms are increasingly confining users in a cycle of content\-related videos.Montanaro, D. (2021, April 22\). *Documentary Unravels Twisted Knots Of QAnon Movement*. NPR. This gives media outlets an increasing power to manipulate biased presented news as supporting evidence to a partisan issue, reinforcing confirmatory information to potential false realities shaped by misinformation. Exposure to political accountability through the media motivates increasing polarization as it exposes how potential candidates stand on a given issue.Lee, N. J., Shah, D. V., \& McLeod, J. M. (2013\). Processes of political socialization: A communication mediation approach to youth civic engagement. *Communication Research*, *40*(5\), 669\-697\.

How do reinforced segments that bring more viewership affect individuals?