The Role of Online Social Networks in Political Polarization

The body of knowledge suggests that online social networking has caused numerous societal, economic, and cultural changes. However, the impact of online social networking activities on politics and policy making has not been rigorously tapped. We intend to study the potential impact of online social networking activities of Members of the 113th House of Representatives on their voting behavior. To proceed with this goal, we have collected historical data from Twitter.com, Klout.com, U.S. Census Bureau, The Library of The Congress, and a number of political websites that provide archive of politicians' voting records. Although, further analysis is required for making any suggestions, our preliminary analysis signals the presence of homophily in the Congressmen's social network. This study would inform the theory by shedding light on the dynamics of political polarization. This study may also inform the practice by revealing the potential impact of online social networks on politicians' voting behavior.