Social networks and spread of immigration attitudes
Abstract
Abstract This study investigates how changes in immigration attitudes in an area spread to other localities. We use the exogenous variation in immigration attitudes from the Associated Press news wire service ban on the term “illegal immigrant,” which previous research has shown made immigration attitudes less hostile in more affected United States counties. We show that respondents in areas more socially connected (via Facebook) to those more affected by the ban exhibited improved immigration attitudes. Additional results suggest the likely channel is changing attitudes in socially connected counties and that people who use social media for political information are more affected.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Migration
Refugees
and Integration
Social Media and Politics
Populism
Right-Wing Movements
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Economic Inquiry
- Volume
- 64
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 434–453
- Publication date
- 14 January 2026
- Language
- EN