Social Media's Impact on Rape Myth Acceptance and Negative Affect: Moderating Roles of Political Affiliation and Gender?

Objective: Media portrayals of sexual violence have been associated with greater rape myth acceptance (RMA). The present study examined how social media posts rejecting or endorsing rape myths affected RMA and negative affect (NA), and moderating roles of gender and political affiliation. Method: Participants were randomized into one of three simulated Facebook newsfeed conditions that were supportive of sexual trauma survivors (#MeToo), supportive of men falsely accused of rape (#HimToo), or unrelated to sexual violence (control). Participants completed the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule before and after the social media induction and the Updated Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale following the induction. Results: We found significant effects of condition on total RMA, F(2, 510) = 3.33, p = .037, and three of four RMA subscales, Fs > 2.8, ps <= .05. Follow-up tests indicated that #MeToo did not significantly differ from control, but that #HimToo reported significantly higher RMA than control for total RMA, beta = 4.45, p = .01, and the three significant subscales, beta s > .08, ps <= .02. Further, NA significantly decreased for control and #MeToo, but not #HimToo. Effects of condition were not moderated by gender or political affiliation for either RMA or NA. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that limited exposure to #MeToo posts does not affect RMA, but that #HimToo posts consistent with rape myths may increase RMA and sustain NA for both men and women and for Democrat- and Republican-identifying participants. Further research should focus on how best to counter these harmful social media effects and extend our findings to nonstudent diverse samples.