Echo Chamber Effects in the Climate Change Blogosphere

Abstract

This research provides evidence for echo chamber effects by investigating blog consumption patterns of audiences in the climate change blogosphere. The aim of this research was to assess whether audiences with low climate change risk perceptions primarily consume climate sceptical blogs and audiences with high climate change risk perceptions primarily consume climate mainstream blogs. Audience members participated in a self-administered survey that measured a) their climate change risk perceptions, b) whether they visit climate mainstream and/or sceptical blogs, c) how many days a month, and d) how much time they typically spend on a blog during a visit. Consistent with expectations, findings reveal that audience members (N = 760) with high risk perceptions primarily consume climate mainstream blogs and audience members with low risk perceptions primarily consume climate sceptical blogs. Implications for research and practice are discussed.