The Imagined Influences of the Imagined Bubbles: Narrative Thoughts as a Mechanism for Presumed Influence

Abstract In this Research Note, we argue that narrative thought (a particularly instrumental form of mental elaboration) is an important mechanism that can enhance the influence of presumed influence. Using an online experiment, we find that (1) partisans generate more narrative thoughts when considering how filter bubbles affect out-group members (compared to in-group members), (2) narrative thoughts are related to an increased perception that filter bubbles make out-group members more polarized, (3) the presumed influence of filter bubbles is related to greater support for algorithm restrictions, and (4) there is an indirect path from considering how filter bubbles affect out-group members to support for algorithm restrictions.