Self-censorship on large corporations in SNS: the effect of news exposure, knowledge, and perceived power

Date13 March 2017
Published date13 March 2017
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/DPRG-02-2016-0009
Pages139-152
AuthorSangho Byeon,Sungeun Chung,Borae Jin
Subject MatterInformation & knowledge management,Information management & governance,Information policy
Self-censorship on large corporations
in SNS: the effect of news exposure,
knowledge, and perceived power
Sangho Byeon, Sungeun Chung and Borae Jin
Sangho Byeon is
Assistant Professor at the
Graduate School of
Policy and Administration,
Dankook University,
Cheonan, Korea.
Sungeun Chung is
Associate Professor at
the Department of
Journalism and Mass
Communication,
Sungkyunkwan University,
Seoul, Korea. Borae Jin is
Assistant Professor at the
Department of Media
Communications,
Joongbu University,
Goyang, Korea.
Abstract
Purpose This paper aims to investigate whether citizens censor their own expressions regarding
large corporations in social networking sites (SNS) and how self-censorship is associated with the
perceived power of, knowledge about and media exposure about large corporations.
Design/methodology/approach A nationwide survey was conducted in South Korea (N455). The
data were analyzed with structural equation modeling.
Findings As exposure to news about large corporations increased, the degree of self-censorship
regarding large corporations increased. This effect of media exposure on self-censorship was mediated
by the amount of knowledge about large corporations and the perceived power of large corporations.
Research limitations/implications Although this study focused on the SNS context, the results of
this study cannot provide the features of the self-censorship process that are distinct in SNS compared
to other contexts. Although a causal model was provided based on theoretical reasoning, the nature of
the data is correlational. Thus, one should be cautious when interpreting the results.
Practical implications The findings suggest that, while establishing privacy protection policies with
regard to the SNS, policy makers need to consider how to prevent invasion of privacy and misuse of
personal data by large corporations, interest groups and the unspecified public.
Originality/value This study extends the literature related to self-censorship by identifying the effects
of economic power and the psychological factors involved in self-censorship.
Keywords Knowledge, Corporate power, SNS, Chilling effect, Media exposure, Self-censorship
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
The phenomenon of self-censorship in speech, also known as the chilling effect, has long
been studied in constitutional research, political science and communication studies. In
constitutional studies, the chilling effect refers to self-censorship of an individual’s speech
for fear of reprisal from state authorities if/when their identities are revealed (Schauer, 1978;
Sidhu, 2007). However, a chilling effect can occur not only from the fear of political
authorities, but also from the fear of influential organizations in the economic and social
sectors (Byeon and Chung, 2012;Sidhu, 2007;Solomon and Samp, 1998). Particularly in
a capitalist society, large corporations with extensive economic power have expanded their
influence to social and political areas (Fuchs, 2005;Herman, 1981). In South Korea, even
the term, chaebol, referring to large business conglomerates such as Samsung, exists.
Perceived power is one of the key elements that cause people to self-censor their
expression or behavior (Detert and Edmondson, 2011;Foucault, 1982). If people are aware
of the power of large corporations, they may avoid talking about certain ideas in the public
sphere. An example of the chilling effect that is relevant to large corporations was reported
in a survey in South Korea (Hwang, 2012). In the survey, 57 per cent of 1,366 job seekers
reported that they deleted some of their postings on their social networking site (SNS)
Received 25 February 2016
Revised 31 October 2016
Accepted 4 November 2016
This work was supported by
the National Research
Foundation of Korea Grant
funded by the Korean
Government
(NRF-2014S1A3A2044046).
DOI 10.1108/DPRG-02-2016-0009 VOL. 19 NO. 2 2017, pp. 139-152, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2398-5038 DIGITAL POLICY, REGULATION AND GOVERNANCE PAGE 139

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT