Social Media Users' Willingness to Self-Censorship regarding Attitude towards State Institutions and Religious Beliefs in Pakistan

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between attitudes towards state institutions, religious beliefs, and willingness to engage in self-censorship through the mediating role of fear of isolation based on the Spiral of Silence Theory. Data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire from 600 respondents, using the purposive sampling technique, and analyzed using AMOS. Results revealed that attitudes towards state institutions and religious beliefs are significantly associated with willingness to self-censor. It was further found that attitude towards state institutions is positively associated with the contextual fear of isolation. Moreover, dispositional/contextual fear of isolation significantly predicted the willingness to self-censor. Dispositional/contextual fear of isolation was found to play a significant mediating role between the relationship of attitude strength towards state institutions/religious beliefs and willingness to self-censor.