The Role of Trust in Social Media Platforms in Shaping Political Effects of Dissident Information Flows: A Case of Facebook in Kazakhstan

Gainous J. Wagner K. Bekmagambetov A. Rodionov A. Beimenbetov S. Zhanadilova A. Karimova Z.
2025 University of Southern California

International Journal of Communication
2025 #19 716 - 739 pp.

Drawing on survey data from Kazakhstan—a Central Asian country of significant geopolitical importance yet often underrepresented in academic discourse—this study examines the influence of social media on political attitudes and engagement within restrictive information environments. Kazakhstan’s high Internet penetration and extensive social media user base provide a unique backdrop for analyzing how digital communication shapes political outcomes in an authoritarian context. Our findings reveal that exposure to dissident information on social media is negatively associated with general trust in government and positively associated with protest intent. Furthermore, these relationships are moderated by citizens’ trust in Facebook, the platform reporting the highest frequency of governmentcritical news in the country. These insights contribute to the broader discourse on digital media effects in authoritarian regimes, highlighting the interplay between digital media consumption, platform trust, and political effects.

dissident information flows , Kazakhstan , protest , social media , trust

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University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, United Arab Emirates
Florida Atlantic University, United States
KIMEP University, Kazakhstan
Maqsut Narikbayev University, Kazakhstan
Kazakh–German University, Kazakhstan
Astana IT University, Kazakhstan
Grenoble-Alpes University, France

University of Sharjah
Florida Atlantic University
KIMEP University
Maqsut Narikbayev University
Kazakh–German University
Astana IT University
Grenoble-Alpes University

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