JOURNAL ARTICLE

How user comments affect news readers' outgroup prejudice: Vicarious intergroup contact and the moderating role of direct intergroup contact.

  • Published In: Journalism, 2026, v. 27, n. 4. P. 1166 1 of 3

  • Database: Communication Source 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Jia, Wufan; Fu, Lunrui; Dai, Yue; Zuo, Zhiya 3 of 3

Abstract

This article investigates how vicarious contact—observing intergroup interactions via user-generated comments on news articles—affects readers' prejudice toward outgroups, specifically Asians and HIV-positive individuals, and how direct contact experiences moderate these effects. An online experiment with 700 participants found that positive vicarious contact increased intentions to interact with HIV-positive individuals among those with limited positive direct contact but decreased positive attitudes for those with extensive positive direct contact. For participants with abundant negative direct contact with Asians, positive vicarious contact reduced their intentions to interact with Asians. The study highlights that user comments can serve as a platform for vicarious intergroup contact but that its effectiveness depends on individuals’ prior direct contact experiences, suggesting cautious application of online positive intergroup interactions as a strategy to reduce prejudice.

Additional Information

  • Source:Journalism. 2026/04, Vol. 27, Issue 4, p1166
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Sociology
  • Publication Date:2026
  • ISSN:1464-8849
  • DOI:10.1177/14648849241312596
  • Accession Number:192177292
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