Polarise and Rule: Independent Media in Autocracy and the Role of Social Media

Abstract How do independent media affect support for the regime in an autocracy? We carried out two complementary field experiments in Russia at the city and individual levels, randomising access to the country’s only independent TV channel before the 2016 parliamentary elections. In both experiments, we find that independent media foster polarisation. They increase turnout and pro-government votes among regime supporters. However, this effect applies only to voters who rely on news from social media. Among consumers of traditional media, the independent channel uniformly decreases regime support. Our results highlight how social media can condition the effect of traditional media.