Boxell et al.'s acknowledgment of theoretical spillover channels does not provide evidence that spillovers from young social media users to
Boxell et al.'s acknowledgment of theoretical spillover channels does not provide evidence that spillovers from young social media users to elderly non-users occurred at sufficient magnitude to account for the observed demographic pattern.
Boxell et al. (2017) acknowledge spillover channels as a theoretical possibility but present the demographic pattern as evidence arguing against internet-driven polarization.
Boxell et al. (2024) conclude that US polarization trends are most consistent with US-specific factors like changing party composition, racial divisions, and partisan cable news.
Boxell (2020) finds demographic change explains only 34% of polarization index change, but the remaining 66% encompasses all non-demographic factors including cable TV and elite polarization, not specifically algorithmic effects.