third-person effect

noun

A hypothesized phenomenon by which people tend to perceive that mass media messages have a greater effect on others than on themselves, based on personal biases.

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Meanings

noun
  1. A hypothesized phenomenon by which people tend to perceive that mass media messages have a greater effect on others than on themselves, based on personal biases.
Cite this entry
APA

third-person effect. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/third-person%20effect

MLA

“third-person effect.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/third-person%20effect. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “third-person effect,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/third-person%20effect.

Source: third-person effect on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.