Surname: 1

Student’s Name:

Institutional Affiliation:

Course:

Date:

Social Media Leads to More Polarization

Social media has recently been highly influential in public dialogue on various subjects.

Thanks to social media, people have a platform to share their thoughts, convictions, and ideas

freely (Kubin and Christian 188). It also helps them to have fruitful discussions and disputes

with those who share their viewpoints and those who do not. However, studies show that

social media helps polarize society further since it enables individuals to surround themselves

with biased information and ideas, which can confirm preexisting biases (Wilson et al. 223).

This article will analyze the causes of the increased polarization brought on by social media.

The first factor contributing to increased polarization on social media is the formation

of filter bubbles that confirm our beliefs. Social media users can personalize their feeds and

communicate primarily with sources and others who share their interests. According to

research, social networking sites' algorithms for selecting material based on a user's browsing

history, likes, and shares create echo chambers (Gillani et al. 823). These echo chambers are

closed communities of people with the same interest or points of view, and they provide a

positive environment where their views and ideas are praised and reinforced. This makes it

difficult for people to be receptive to diverse points of view. People who experience this

phenomenon end up obtaining news and information that supports their previous prejudices,

further polarizing society (Wilson et al. 223). As a result, instead of conversing and
 Surname: 2

attempting to understand one another when faced with different viewpoints, they become

defensive.

Secondly, social media platforms' incentives for the usage of polarizing and extremist

material are a significant element in the polarization of society. Social media sites' algorithms

prioritize postings that receive the most significant interaction, frequently encouraging users

to create material that is more likely to be shared and commented on (Kubin and Christian

188). As a result, there is a profusion of sensational, controversial, and frequently radical

content, exacerbating the gap between different societal groups. Because of this, people

become disenchanted and lose faith in democratic institutions, which lowers civic

engagement and undermines the same institutions that support democracy.

Polarization is exacerbated by governments' and groups' use of social media as

propaganda. Since many users cannot distinguish between reality and propaganda, social

media platforms have become receptacles for false information (Wilson et al. 228). As false

news, conspiracy theories, and polarizing material are increasingly utilized to sway public

opinion, social media platforms serve as the ideal medium for their dissemination. People

share and respond to content without fact-checking, which allows propaganda and

disinformation to propagate. Because there is no control over social media sites, this issue is

further exacerbated by the need for more accountability there.

Additionally, social media platforms highlight extreme viewpoints, further polarizing

society. People may communicate their thoughts and beliefs on social media fast and readily,

no matter how radical they may be. This freedom of expression, which may encourage

inaccurate interpretations and misrepresentations of various groups of people and increase

toxicity and polarization, can have fatal results. For instance, social media accentuates

differences and gives individuals a platform to air their displeasure and complaints about
 Surname: 3

those who have different opinions. This can engender animosity against individuals who are

thought to hold opposite beliefs, further polarizing society (Levy 831).

However, other scholars argue that social media does not increase polarization but

encourages variety and fosters the interchange of opposing viewpoints and experiences. They

contend that social media facilitates connections between individuals who have comparable

interests and beliefs, which can increase exposure to a broader range of information and

views. People now have access to a wider variety of information sources and points of view

than they would have before (Kubin and Christian 206). They may also have fruitful

discussions and arguments with those who have opposing viewpoints, which can help

dismantle barriers and lessen polarization. Social media may thereby encourage a more

nuanced knowledge of many topics, contributing to developing a more accepting and

inclusive society. A sizable pool of contributors from varied geographic areas, ideological

backgrounds, and levels of education and experience also influences a wide range of

viewpoints on many problems. Therefore, social media can offer the kinds of cross-border

encounters that enable discussion and the exchange of viewpoints across groups. These

collective discourses cultivated democracy in our societies, in a culture as fragmented as ours

(Levy 850).

In conclusion, social media is to blame for society's increasing division. While they can

link individuals worldwide and give a platform to underrepresented perspectives, they are

also accountable for creating eco chambers, incentivizing incendiary conduct, and

propagating extreme viewpoints. This phenomenon will continue to dominate our online

dialogues unless social media corporations take steps to control material and reduce echo

chambers, increasing division and harming society significantly.

Works Cited

Gillani, Nabeel, et al. "Me, my echo chamber, and I: Introspection on social media

polarization." Proceedings of the 2018 World Wide Web Conference. 2018. (pp. 823–

831).

Kubin, Emily, and Christian von Sikorski. "The role of (social) media in political

polarization: a systematic review." Annals of the International Communication

Association 45.3 (2021): 188-206.

Levy, Ro’ee. "Social media, news consumption, and polarization: Evidence from a field

experiment." American economic review 111.3 2021: 831–870.

Wilson, Anne E., Victoria A. Parker, and Matthew Feinberg. "Polarization in the

contemporary political and media landscape." Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences

34 2020: 223–228.