We’re a good match: Selective political friending on social networking sites

Abstract To date, the role of user behavior in formation politically homogeneous online environments (oftentimes called echo chambers) is not fully understood. Building on selective exposure research, we introduce notion political friending, that is, preference for like-mindedness social affiliations networking sites. In a pre-registered laboratory experiment with users sites Germany (N = 199), find preferably build connections those who share their opinions toward controversial issues. Political outperforms other friending criteria such as popularity or career-related fit another user. pronounced when individuals’ pre-existing are strong. The present study points to necessity take motivational complexity into account studying phenomena linked homogeneity SNS.