The impact of social media on public perceptions of corruption in Vietnam
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59394/JSM.104Keywords:
Social media, corruption perception, anti-corruption content, Vietnam , digital governance, political communication, quantitative research, public accountability, mediation analysis, civic engagementAbstract
This study investigates the influence of social media on public perceptions of corruption in Vietnam, a context characterized by rapid digital transformation. Drawing on a cross-sectional survey of 200 social media users in Ho Chi Minh City, the research examines how the frequency of social media use and exposure to anti-corruption content shape citizens’ subjective assessments of corruption. Utilizing multivariate linear regression and bootstrap-based mediation analysis, the findings reveal that both social media usage frequency and exposure to anti-corruption content are positively associated with heightened perceptions of corruption. Moreover, exposure to anti-corruption narratives partially mediates the relationship between social media use and corruption perceptions. These results underscore the critical role of digital platforms in fostering informal oversight and public accountability in semi-authoritarian regimes. The study contributes to the growing literature on media effects and governance in Southeast Asia and offers policy implications for leveraging digital communication in anti-corruption strategies.
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