Is Social Media the Root Cause of Political Polarization?

 

Polarization in America. Source: Brown University

Is Social Media the Root Cause of Political Polarization?

Social media, in terms of its role as a forum for political discourse, is characterized by its growing interactivity on the Web. We now have the capacity to both acquire and contribute information through this new media. The platform has demonstrated its capacity for scalability, allowing individuals to choose the type of information they desire to receive and share their own content with individuals within their social network. The Internet has resulted in the dissemination of political assertions and discussions, facilitating the organization and collaboration among individuals. But is it the sole reason for political polarization?

According to a study conducted by Jesse Shapiro, an economist from Brown University, it has been observed that Americans' attitudes towards individuals belonging to the opposing political party have worsened at a higher rate compared to residents of significant democracies in Europe and other regions. The study revealed that there has been an increase in polarization within Canada, New Zealand, and Switzerland during the past four decades, but to a comparatively lesser degree. Polarization had a decline in Germany, Australia, the United Kingdom, Sweden and Norway.

Why is Polarization High in America?

In 2022, the United States was ranked third in having the largest global social media audience, after China and India. Over 308 million Americans actively engage in social media platforms, resulting in a social networking penetration rate above 91.8 percent. Based on a May 2023 online poll in the United States, 34% of American social media users are actively interested in political causes or topics. One-quarter of respondents stated they had encouraged others to take action on issues important to them, and just over one in ten had used hashtags related to a political or social issue on social media in the past year. Approximately 25% of the participants indicated that they had actively motivated others to engage in activities on matters of personal significance. Additionally, slightly more than 10% reported employing hashtags associated with political or social causes on various social media platforms within the previous year.

A graph showing how Americans engages in politics through social media platforms. Source: Statista (2023). 

Due to this high social media penetration rate, political candidates and their respective supporters frequently utilize social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter to disseminate their perspectives and opinions. Every political party has its own social media pages, through which it disseminates propaganda and solicits money. Over the last two decades, there has been an increase in the proportion of Americans who constantly adhere to either liberal or conservative ideologies, as opposed to maintaining a combination of both, which is the prevailing tendency for most individuals. This percentage has risen from 10 percent to over 20 percent. Simultaneously, there is a growing inclination towards increasingly unfavorable perceptions of the opposing viewpoint.

Polarization among Americans. Source: Pew Research Center (2017)

Since 1994, there has been a twofold increase in the proportion of Americans who perceive the opposing political party as a threat to the nation's overall welfare. The escalating societal polarization leads to anticipated consequences, including government shutdowns, violent protests, and vehement criticisms directed toward elected authorities. Quite a few factors may be at play here. However, social media sites are the most critical factor in fueling polarization. Platforms like Facebook, Reddit, and Twitter have become fertile ground for heated political debates. Even if polarization is facilitated on social media, the effects may be more subtle than you may think. It appears that amp-up moral and emotional messages are amplified on social media, while people of different parties constantly organize into digital communities based on tribal conflicts.

Facebook, Twitter and Reddit termed as "breeding grounds for radicalization" in the 2021 violence related to capital attack. Source: The Guardian (2022)

 

We are continuously trapped in online filter bubbles, where we are only exposed to things confirming our beliefs when we scroll through social media. We seek out and agree with ideas that match our preexisting ideas, termed confirmation bias in psychological studies. Listening to people who validate our worldviews may be simpler if we select our favored news sites and curate our social media profiles. In fact, people prefer to get political advice from those who share their beliefs, believing that such individuals must be more knowledgeable than people from other parties. This approach is one of the main reasons why social media fuels political polarization. It stands to reason that if listening only to people who align with your political worldview increases polarization, listening to or following people of opposing worldviews would reduce polarization. However, further research is needed to confirm these arguments and conclusions.

 

Sources

Boxell, L., Gentzkow, M., & Shapiro, J. M. (2022). Cross-country trends in affective polarization. Review of Economics and Statistics, 1-60. Retrieved from https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w26669/w26669.pdf

Brown University (2020). U.S. is polarizing faster than other democracies, study finds. Retrieved from https://www.brown.edu/news/2020-01-21/polarization

Dixon, S. J. (2023). Share of social media users in the United States who have taken part in online political activism in the past year as of May 2023. Statista.  Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1402885/us-adults-politically-active-social-media/

Dixon, S. J. (2023). Social media usage in the United States - Statistics & Facts. Statista. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/topics/3196/social-media-usage-in-the-united-states/#statisticChapter

The Guardian. (2020). ‘Breeding grounds for radicalization’: Capitol attack panel signals loss of patience with big tech. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jan/13/capitol-attack-subpoena-google-facebook-twitter