Are Chinese Netizens Willing to Speak Out? The Spiral of Silence in Public Reactions to Controversial Food Safety Issues on Social Media
Abstract
:1. Introduction
1.1. Genetically Modified Food and Food Additive Issues in China
1.2. The Spiral of Silence in the Social Media Age
1.3. Perceived Opinion of Netizens and Self-Opinion on Perceived Opinion of General Population
1.4. Factors That Influence Willingness to Speak Out
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Sample and Procedures
2.2. Measures
3. Results
4. Discussion
4.1. Theoretical Implications
4.2. Practical Implications
4.3. Limitations and Future Directions
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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N | % | n | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gender | Age | ||||
Male | 543 | 49.9 | 18–29 years | 395 | 36.3 |
Female | 546 | 50.1 | 30–39 years | 470 | 43.2 |
Education | 40–49 years | 155 | 14.2 | ||
Completed graduate degree | 86 | 7.9 | 50–59 years | 56 | 5.1 |
Attending/dropping out graduate program | 13 | 1.2 | 60 years + | 13 | 1.2 |
Completed college | 853 | 78.3 | Monthly household income | ||
Attending/dropping out college | 64 | 5.9 | <$1225 | 121 | 11.1 |
Completed high school | 59 | 5.4 | $1225–2450 | 559 | 51.3 |
Attending/dropping out high school | 7 | 0.6 | $2450–6127 | 366 | 33.6 |
Completed middle school | 5 | 0.5 | >$6127 | 43 | 3.9 |
Completed elementary school | 2 | 0.2 |
Variables | Description | Values | M | SD | Scale/Index | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Perceived opinion of netizens | ||||||
GM foods | In your view, how do netizens feel about GM foods? | 1 = Strongly unfavorable, 5 = Strongly favorable | 2.49 | 0.93 | M = 2.64 SD = 0.80 α = 0.65 | |
In your view, what in general do internet discussions say about GM foods? | 2.79 | 0.92 | ||||
Food additives | In your view, how do netizens feel about food additives? | 2.54 | 0.93 | M = 2.63 SD = 0.81 α = 0.75 | ||
In your view, what in general do internet discussions say about food additives? | 2.71 | 0.89 | ||||
Perceived present opinion | ||||||
GM foods | What do you think is the opinion of the majority of the Chinese people about GM foods/the use of food additives? | 1 = Strongly unfavorable, 5 = Strongly favorable | 2.64 | 0.90 | ||
Food additives | 2.64 | 0.88 | ||||
Perceived future opinion | ||||||
GM foods | What do you think the general opinions of the Chinese people about GM foods/the use of food additives will be in 10 years? | 1 = Strongly unfavorable, 5 = Strongly favorable | 3.11 | 1.23 | ||
Food additives | 2.94 | 1.16 | ||||
Perceived opinion of important others | ||||||
GM foods | What do you think about the opinions of the people around you (e.g., family, friends) about GM foods/the use of food additives? | 1 = Strongly unfavorable, 5 = Strongly favorable | 2.46 | 0.97 | ||
Food additives | 2.54 | 0.98 | ||||
Perceived opinion of experts | ||||||
GM foods | What do you think of the opinions of experts (e.g., government agencies, university research institutes, and corporate research institutes) on GM foods/the use of food additives? | 1 = Strongly unfavorable, 5 = Strongly favorable | 3.30 | 0.88 | ||
Food additives | 3.16 | 0.85 | ||||
Self-opinion | ||||||
GM foods | How do you feel about GM foods, in general? | 1 = Strongly unfavorable, 5 = Strongly favorable | 2.55 | 0.95 | M = 2.60 SD = 0.70 α = 0.77 | |
I do not consider buying any products containing genetically modified components a wise decision. (reverse) | 1 = Definitely will not, 5 = Definitely will | 2.73 | 1.06 | |||
I think buying organic products instead of GM foods is a better option, regardless of its price. (reverse) | 1 = Prefer not to by GM foods, 5 = Prefer to buy GM foods | 2.11 | 0.94 | |||
I think GM foods are ethically problematic. (reverse) | 1 = Problematic, 5 = Not problematic | 2.56 | 0.91 | |||
I agree with using genetic recombination technology in food manufacturing. | 1 = Strongly disagree, 5 = Strongly agree | 3.04 | 1.01 | |||
Food additives | How do you feel about the use of food additives in general? I’m positive about the use of food additives. I agree with using proper amount of additives in food. I think using food additives to preserve food from decay is essential. I think buying foods with less additives is better. | 1 = Strongly disagree, 5 = Strongly agree | 2.67 2.71 3.35 3.40 3.76 | 0.87 0.99 0.98 0.95 0.85 | M = 3.18 SD = 0.68 α = 0.79 | |
Self-relevance | ||||||
GM foods | I see a close connection between me and GM foods issue. GM foods issue has serious consequences for my life and someone I care. | 1 = Strongly disagree, 5 = Strongly agree | 4.01 4.14 | 0.85 0.77 | M = 4.08 SD = 0.71 α = 0.71 | |
Food additives | I see a close connection between me and food additives issue. Food additives issue has serious consequences for my life and someone I care. | 4.09 4.21 | 0.80 0.74 | M = 4.15 SD = 0.66 α = 0.65 | ||
Self-influence | I can lead others to my point of view if I want. I tend to change the minds of others without being too hard. I enjoy discussing with people who have different views. I usually win when discussing with people who have a different opinion. I think I am well-connected with other people. | 1 = Strongly disagree, 5 = Strongly agree | 3.67 2.96 3.89 3.31 3.70 | 0.77 0.93 0.78 0.82 0.86 | M = 2.03 SD = 0.72 α = 0.73 | |
Willingness to speak out | ||||||
GM foods | If I discover a controversial discussion on GM foods on the social media, I will be willing to compose original posts and give my opinion. If I discover a controversial discussion on GM foods on the social media, I am willing to forward posts of GM foods. If I discover a controversial discussion on GM foods on the social media, I am willing to comment on posts of GM foods. | 1 = No, 2 = Unsure, 3 = Yes | 2.06 1.85 1.79 | 0.88 0.89 0.89 | M = 2.26 SD = 0.57 α = 0.61 | |
Food additives | If I discover a controversial discussion on the use of food additives on the social media, I will be willing to compose original posts and give my opinion. If I discover a controversial discussion on the use of food additives on the social media, I am willing to forward posts of food additives. If I discover a controversial discussion on the use of food additives on the social media, I am willing to comment on posts of food additives. | 2.04 1.80 1.75 | 0.87 0.89 0.89 | M = 2.28 SD = 0.56α = 0.60 |
Present Opinion | Future Opinion | Important Others’ Opinion | Experts’ Opinion | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GM Food | Additive | GM Food | Additive | GM Food | Additive | GM Food | Additive | |
Netizen opinion | 0.51 *** | 0.57 *** | 0.09 ** | 0.15 *** | 0.47 *** | 0.55 *** | 0.19 *** | 0.23 *** |
Self-opinion | 0.19 *** | 0.19 *** | 0.5 *** | 0.43 *** | 0.33 *** | 0.23 *** | 0.28 *** | 0.32 *** |
Self-relevance | −0.07 ** | −0.06 ** | −0.03 | −0.03 | −0.08 ** | −0.06 ** | 0.08 ** | 0.05 |
Gender (ref. = male) | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.03 | 0.01 | −0.05 * | −0.02 | −0.02 | −0.03 |
Age | −0.08 ** | 0.02 | −0.14 *** | −0.10 *** | −0.01 | 0.02 | −0.10 *** | −0.04 |
Education | 0.04 | −0.03 | −0.03 | 0.01 | 0.04 | −0.01 | −0.01 | 0.01 |
Income | 0.02 | 0.01 | 0.03 | −0.05 | 0.02 | −0.02 | −0.05 | −0.05 |
Total Adj. R2 (%) | 41.0 | 45.2 | 34.6 | 27.3 | 47.6 | 46.8 | 16.1 | 21.4 |
DV = Willingness to Speak Out | GM Food | Additive | |
---|---|---|---|
Independent variables | Opinion incongruence | −0.07 * | −0.05 |
Self-relevance | 0.15 *** | −0.10 ** | |
Self-influence | 0.21 *** | 0.17 *** | |
Control variables | Gender (ref. = male) | 0.03 | −0.01 |
Age | −0.04 | 0.03 | |
Education | 0.02 | 0.01 | |
Income | 0.06 | −0.05 | |
Total Adj. R2 (%) | 8.9 | 5.1 |
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Xu, L.; Liu, J.; Kim, J.; Chon, M.-G. Are Chinese Netizens Willing to Speak Out? The Spiral of Silence in Public Reactions to Controversial Food Safety Issues on Social Media. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 13114. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182413114
Xu L, Liu J, Kim J, Chon M-G. Are Chinese Netizens Willing to Speak Out? The Spiral of Silence in Public Reactions to Controversial Food Safety Issues on Social Media. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18(24):13114. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182413114
Chicago/Turabian StyleXu, Linjia, Jiaying Liu, Jarim Kim, and Myoung-Gi Chon. 2021. "Are Chinese Netizens Willing to Speak Out? The Spiral of Silence in Public Reactions to Controversial Food Safety Issues on Social Media" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 24: 13114. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182413114
APA StyleXu, L., Liu, J., Kim, J., & Chon, M. -G. (2021). Are Chinese Netizens Willing to Speak Out? The Spiral of Silence in Public Reactions to Controversial Food Safety Issues on Social Media. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(24), 13114. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182413114