The use of digital social networks from an analytical sociology perspective: The case of Spain

• Published in: Rationality and society 2015-11, Vol.27 (4), p.492-512
• Main Authors: Robles, José Manuel, Torres-Albero, Cristóbal, Antino, Mirko, De Marco, Stefano
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attitudes; Demonstrations & protests; Internet; Methodological individualism; Political action; Political activism; Political attitudes; Politics; Social networks; Social sciences; Sociology; Specialists; Technology adoption
• ISSN: 1043-4631; 1461-7358
• DOI: 10.1177/1043463115605480

Digital social networks have attracted the attention of a growing number of specialists. The use of digital tools such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to express socio-political demands or to perform protest actions has become a central issue for social science today. However, few studies analyse the factors behind this phenomenon using explanatory models based on analytical sociology and rational action. In this article, we take steps in this direction and study the socio-political use of social networks based on a methodological individualism model. Through an analysis of structural equations, we analyse how the individual and social factors involved in the use of the social networks to ‘do’ politics relate to one another. We conclude that attitudes towards the political possibilities of the Internet constitute an essential factor for this kind of political action.