El impacto de los servicios móviles de mensajería instantánea en las percepciones ciudadanas sobre la democracia en España

In recent years, citizens have made greater use of mobile instant messaging services, such as WhatsApp or Telegram, as a tool for political communication. The privacy and close communication that define these platforms have made them a preferred space for the public when it comes to accessing information, sharing and debating on issues of everyday life. However, despite their popularization, citizens’ perceptions of the political use of these media have been the subject of little scientific research. For this reason, we analyze citizens’ perceptions of the consequences of these channels on democracy, taking the Spanish case as a framework for study. The methodology used is based on a quantitative survey applied through an online panel. Fieldwork was carried out in May 2023 through Qualtrics, with a sample of 1106 citizens residing in Spain. Findings show that the main benefit that citizens associate with the political use of mobile messaging services in an increased intention to vole in elections and the opportunity to participate in public debate. On the other hand, the main harm reported is the spread of misinformation and false news. Additionally, citizens perceive that the capacity to influence the opinion of third parties is the most decisive characteristic of these channels in public debate. Overall, the level of confidence in these services as a tool for improving democracy is moderate. Finally, political ideology is the only variable that conditions all aspects studied.