Author(s): Asif Arshad, Farahat Ali, Muhammad Ans, Muhammad Awais, Andleeb Ikhlaq
Adopting the spiral of silence framework, this study examines the association between fear of isolation on social networking sites and willingness to self-censorship. Moreover, this study investigates the mediating role of attitude strength in the relationship between contextual fear of isolation and social media users’ willingness to self-censorship. Based on a cross-sectional survey design, this study collected data through a self-administered questionnaire from 600 university students. Findings through structural equation modeling showed that dispositional fear of isolation and contextual fear of isolation regarding judiciary lead social media users towards willingness to self-censorship. A significant relationship was also observed between contextual fear of isolation and attitude strength. Attitude strength significantly predicted willingness to self-censorship in all institutions except the army. Locale and ethnicity were significant predictors of the willingness to self-censorship. The findings further revealed that attitude strength towards judiciary and religion significantly mediates between contextual fear of isolation and willingness to self-censorship.