The Role of Trust in Social Media Platforms in Shaping Political Effects of Dissident Information Flows: A Case of Facebook in Kazakhstan

Abstract

Drawing on survey data from Kazakhstan—a Central Asian country of significant geopolitical importance yet often underrepresented in academic discourse—this study examines the influence of social media on political attitudes and engagement within restrictive information environments. Kazakhstan’s high Internet penetration and extensive social media user base provide a unique backdrop for analyzing how digital communication shapes political outcomes in an authoritarian context. Our findings reveal that exposure to dissident information on social media is negatively associated with general trust in government and positively associated with protest intent. Furthermore, these relationships are moderated by citizens’ trust in Facebook, the platform reporting the highest frequency of government-critical news in the country. These insights contribute to the broader discourse on digital media effects in authoritarian regimes, highlighting the interplay between digital media consumption, platform trust, and political effects.