What does the third-person effect hypothesize about media messages?

The third-person effect hypothesizes that individuals tend to believe that media messages have a greater influence on others than on themselves. This perception can lead to a range of attitudes and behaviors, such as increased support for censorship or regulation of media content, driven by the belief that harmful media influences impact the broader public more significantly than one's own experience.

This phenomenon is important in understanding how people interpret media messages and their implications for public policy and communication strategies. For instance, people might call for action against certain media portrayals or representations, assuming that their peers are more susceptible than they are to persuasion or negative effects. This cognitive bias underscores the complexities of public perceptions of media influence and highlights how individuals might misjudge their own vulnerability compared to others.