Relationship between various uses of social networks, twitter and facebook, emotions and voting in Spain

Abstract

Introduction: The objective pursued by this research is to determine if the diversified uses of social networks (Twitter and Facebook) in Spain have a relationship with the vote for political parties that citizens express, as well as with the presence of emotions towards leaders. If so, we could assume that the plataformización is a politicized and emotional process and that this politicization and emotionality of the process links the type of use those citizens make of the networks. Methodology: This work has been proposed as a case study using a quantitative methodological approach that proposes both a descriptive and interdependency analysis of the data. Results: the analysis of the consumption of networks according to the vote shows the existence of a differentiated pattern according to the latter. A trend that is replicated concerning the specific use of specific networks. Discussion: The data regarding emotional expression of anger and fear agree with the positions defended in the literature. Conclusions: These findings are in addition to those already existing regarding the importance of networks as “echo chambers” that amplify the debates that occur in them, in a kind of “emotional spiral”.