Abstract
Twitterbots are automated programs that can tweet and interact with users of Twitter. With consideration to the growing usage of social media for communicative and informational functions and to current events such as the "Black Lives Matter" movement, this study explores differences in perceptions of communication quality between racially-depicted black and white Twitterbots, specifically perceptions of credibility and interpersonal attraction. This study employs social presence theory as a theoretical lens. Results suggest that participants viewed the black-depicted Twitterbot as higher in credibility and interpersonal attraction. Results are discussed in light of social presence theory and offer directions for future studies on race, automated programs, and social media.
Journal Title
Iowa Journal of Communication
Volume
48
Issue
1
First Page
23
Last Page
35
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Goble, Henry; Beattie, Austin J.; and Edwards, Chad
(2016)
"The Impact of Twitterbot Race on Interpersonal Impressions,"
Iowa Journal of Communication: Vol. 48:
No.
1, Article 5.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/ijc/vol48/iss1/5
Copyright
©2016 Iowa Communication Association
