TY - JOUR
T1 - "Airpocalypse" and the China smog crisis
T2 - Examining online and offline civic engagement motives, attention, and actions
AU - Chen, Yashu
AU - Cheong, Pauline
PY - 2019/1/1
Y1 - 2019/1/1
N2 - Air pollution is a leading concern in China, linked to one in three deaths. Given the rising prominence and importance of environmental protection in China and worldwide, this study investigates civic engagement related to air pollution by examining the associations between social network site (SNS) use, attention to the China smog crisis-related content on mobile Internet platforms, and motives for SNSs use. Results revealed that attention to the China smog crisis-related content on mobile Internet platforms was positively associated with participation in the China smog crisis, both on SNSs and on the ground. The combination of having a high need for recognition along with a low need for entertainment best predicted civic engagement, both on SNSs and offline. Furthermore, results indicated the importance of differentiating geography in the context of Chinese communication practices, as smogginess of location moderated the relationship between offline civic engagement and attitude toward SNS use.
AB - Air pollution is a leading concern in China, linked to one in three deaths. Given the rising prominence and importance of environmental protection in China and worldwide, this study investigates civic engagement related to air pollution by examining the associations between social network site (SNS) use, attention to the China smog crisis-related content on mobile Internet platforms, and motives for SNSs use. Results revealed that attention to the China smog crisis-related content on mobile Internet platforms was positively associated with participation in the China smog crisis, both on SNSs and on the ground. The combination of having a high need for recognition along with a low need for entertainment best predicted civic engagement, both on SNSs and offline. Furthermore, results indicated the importance of differentiating geography in the context of Chinese communication practices, as smogginess of location moderated the relationship between offline civic engagement and attitude toward SNS use.
KW - China smog crisis
KW - Civic engagement
KW - Media exposure
KW - Mobile Internet
KW - Social network sites
KW - Uses and gratifications
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85068122583&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85068122583&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85068122583
SN - 1932-8036
VL - 13
SP - 693
EP - 714
JO - International Journal of Communication
JF - International Journal of Communication
ER -