Narratives of Migration and Political Polarization: Private Preferences, Public Preferences and Social Media

Eugenio Levi, Michael Bayerlein, Gianluca Grimalda () and Tommaso G. Reggiani ()
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Eugenio Levi: Link Campus University
Michael Bayerlein: German Institute for International and Security Affairs
Gianluca Grimalda: University of Passau
Tommaso G. Reggiani: Cardiff University

No 17749, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: We study how preferences for migration-related narratives differ between private and public contexts and how social media fuel opinion polarization. Using a German representative sample (n=1,226), we found that individuals, especially from the left and center, avoided publicly endorsing anti-migration narratives. In an experiment on Twitter (n=19,989) we created four Twitter profiles, each endorsing one of the narratives. Far-right users exhibited markedly different engagement patterns. While initial public endorsements, measured by follow-back rates, aligned with private preferences, social media interactions amplified support for the most hostile and polarizing narrative. We conclude that social media significantly distort private preferences and amplify polarization.

Keywords: immigration; narratives; political polarization; economic reciprocity; survey experiment; field experiment; group identity; social media; Twitter (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C93 D72 D91 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-03
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