Social media has been shown to amplify content that confirms existing beliefs, driving political polarization.
What is social media’s connection to political polarization?
The increasing usage of social media networks and sites such as Twitter and Facebook have now resulted in a greater ideological barrier between people with different political beliefs. The scale upon which this is occurring is constantly intensifying, and is bound to have long-term consequences. Countries are subject to issues like increased political violence, civil disorder, etc.
There are many means through which social media tends to aggravate the issue at hand – let us explore some of the most effective and fatal ones.
Filter bubbles and echo chambers: what are they?
Firstly, we see the presence of filter bubbles and echo chambers on sites such as Twitter. Filter bubbles occur due to how social media algorithms are designed - to show users content that they are likely to engage with. This can lead to users being exposed to a narrow range of information that confirms their existing beliefs. Options such as ‘recommended information’ further worsen this phenomenon known as a ‘filter bubble’.
Echo chambers can also form, where users only interact with people who share their views. This can make it difficult for people to see different perspectives and can lead to increased political polarization. Echo chambers can contribute to political polarization by making it difficult for people to see the other side of an issue.
When people are only exposed to information that supports their views, they are less likely to be open to changing their minds or understanding the perspectives of others. This can lead to increased hostility and distrust between people with different political beliefs.
There is some evidence to suggest that echo chambers are becoming more prevalent on social media. A study by the Pew Research Centre found that in 2018, 60% of Americans said they got news from social media, and that this number was higher among younger adults.
The study also found that people who got news from social media were more likely to be exposed to news that confirmed their existing beliefs.
Although this cause may not have been intentional on behalf of the companies, it has a staggeringly large effect on political polarity, as people’s views inexorably progress to become increasingly dogmatic, thus cementing this separation between ideologies.
Social media algorithms and their effect on this problem
Linked to this idea, is the simple issue of the algorithm of the social media site. The algorithms that social media platforms use to recommend content can also contribute to political polarization.
These algorithms are designed to keep users engaged, and they often do this by showing them content that is similar to what they have already liked or shared. This can, once again, lead to people being exposed to more and more content that confirms their existing beliefs and can make it difficult for them to see the other side of an issue.
They can also sometimes recommend content that is false or misleading. This can lead people to be exposed to misinformation, which can also contribute to political polarization (as will be discussed later).
Social media algorithms can amplify the voices of extremists. This is because they are designed to show users content that is likely to get a reaction, even if it is negative. This can lead to people being exposed to more extreme views, which can make them more polarized in their own views.
How are people themselves on social media affecting political polarization?
While social media algorithms can contribute to political polarization, there are ways in which fellow people end up contributing to it too – trolls.
Trolls are simply people who, intentionally or unintentionally, disrupt a social media site through unnecessary comments, misleading information, profanity, etc.
However, one way in which certain trolls intensify political polarization on social media is when they use offensive language and make personal attacks.
This can make it difficult for people to have civil conversations about political issues, thus leading to increased anger and resentment between people with different political beliefs.
Multiple past events support this theory - in the lead-up to the 2016 US presidential election, Russian trolls spread misinformation and disinformation on social media in an attempt to sow discord and divide the electorate.
Such an incident has been proven to cause further disagreement between different ideological parties and supporters within the USA, and possibly worldwide.
Misinformation: a silent killer
The issue of misinformation comes up when in deep analysis of this aspect. On its own, misinformation is already very harmful. However, with the speed at which social media is able to spread news, misinformation can cause severe consequences. In many instances, misinformation has led to multiple issues that have augmented the barrier between political views.
Let us observe the 2016 US presidential election again. There was a significant amount of misinformation spread on social media during this period, much of it targeting voters in key swing states.
For example, one study found that 60% of the top-performing false news stories on Facebook during the election were about Hillary Clinton. This misinformation is believed to have played a role in the election results.
Another political dilemma that arose due to misinformation on social media was the 2018 Brazilian elections, one of the most polarised presidential campaigns ever in their history. The event clearly displayed to the world the frustration and hardship that a country’s politics may go through due to aggravated polarity, especially through this method.
Solutions to this issue: effective or not?
Many solutions have been discussed and debated by various organizations and people regarding the political polarization through social media, as well as its consequences.
The general solution to mitigate political polarization is to present different views and opinions to youngsters and adults, to give them a broader view of the political world. People should be encouraged to get their news from a variety of sources, including those that they disagree with, to prevent exposure to only one angle.
Civic engagement can help to build bridges between people of different political views. This can be done by encouraging people to volunteer, to vote, and to participate in other forms of civic activity.
Many experts believe that trust is essential for a healthy democracy. The world must find ways to build trust between people of different political views. This can be done through dialogue, through cooperation, and through shared experiences.
All in all, the fact is known worldwide: social media does exacerbate political polarization. The question is – can we act fast enough to ensure that it will become no less than a myth in the decades to come?
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