Social Media Use: How Does Critical Consumption of News Impact Voting Persuasion in Angola?

The study provides important findings regarding the impact of external variables on Angolan’s political participation. More specifically, it is analysed how critical news consumption on social media influences voting persuasion behaviour. The model was evaluated with a sample of 200 adult Angolan citizens to achieve significant conclusions. Through the provided answers, it was concluded that Angolans, further than being critical of the information shared on social media, try to influence others to vote online or offline. The collected sample also allowed us to conclude that age is correlated with voting persuasion. The older people are, the higher the probability they will persuade others to vote. Through this study, policymakers have the possibility to understand citizens better and target political campaigns on social media platforms, always employing respectful and trustful behaviour. This study also reinforces the need for proper education so citizens critically interact with news.