Motivations for Usage of National Political News in Social Networking Sites and Digital News Sites of the United States and South Korea: Comparison of Need for Social Affiliation, National Political Interest, and Perceived Platform Credibility

摘要

This study examined different motives in people's use of national political news on social networking sites and digital news sites in the United States and South Korea. This study examined which motive is most important in predicting the use of national political news: the need for social affiliation, perceived credibility about platforms, or national political interest. Using a survey of 1,000 Koreans and 1,054 Americans, this study compared motives for people from two cultures for their use national political news on social networking sites as well as why they use national political news on digital news sites. The results showed no difference in the best predictor between Koreans and Americans in which motives predicted the use of social networking sites and digital news site for political national news. Perceived platform credibility was the best predictor of social networking site use, and political interest was the best predictor of using digital news sites.