Polarization Peak; The Effect of Social Media Social media is the most popular way people are connecting to friends, receiving updates on work, finding out about politics, and sharing information. Ever considered that social media might also be influencing the level of polarization in most Americans? Political polarization, when an individual’s stance on an issue that is defined by a political party or ideology, is a growing problem in the United States. Many factors contribute to the polarization of Americans. However, social media is a big aspect that contributes to America’s current state. Several Americans wonder whether the situation will improve through the course of time. Political polarization amongst Americans will continue to increase
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However, most people might not consider that they might still be segregated. Americans are not segregated in their surroundings, but segregated on the internet. The internet keeps people separated from individuals who are not like them, and who don’t share their same beliefs. Eli Pariser, chief executive of a “meaningful” viral content website called Upworthy and an internet activist, in his speech “Beware Online Filter Bubbles”, provides an instance of social networking platforms determining the individuals that people interact with on their social media. Pariser claims that Facebook edits out the conservatives out of his newsfeed based on posts that he has clicked on in the past. The speaker is a liberal, therefore he clicks on information that is relevant to his ideology. By doing so, Facebook takes out all the information that relates to conservatives (00:02:03). This means that social media exposes him to less diverse information that contains a variety of different viewpoints. A 2012 Facebook study, performed by Facebook, suggests otherwise. The study results suggest, “Online social networks may increase the spread of novel information and diverse viewpoints”. However, the can’t trust a social media network, Facebook, that it is not sure about the outcome of their own platform, or the effects that it will have on their consumers. Ultimately, Pariser’s situation occurs among Americans of different ideologies, who use social media, as well. As a result, Americans become more polarized and become more close-minded due to the fact that social media exposes them less to other people of different ideologies who have other opinions. This is proven by a 2015 study over ideological structure and consistency in the age of polarization. The study results show that polarization in American politics is increasing and the changes in social media make it easier for citizens to see
However, most people might not consider that they might still be segregated. Americans are not segregated in their surroundings, but segregated on the internet. The internet keeps people separated from individuals who are not like them, and who don’t share their same beliefs. Eli Pariser, chief executive of a “meaningful” viral content website called Upworthy and an internet activist, in his speech “Beware Online Filter Bubbles”, provides an instance of social networking platforms determining the individuals that people interact with on their social media. Pariser claims that Facebook edits out the conservatives out of his newsfeed based on posts that he has clicked on in the past. The speaker is a liberal, therefore he clicks on information that is relevant to his ideology. By doing so, Facebook takes out all the information that relates to conservatives (00:02:03). This means that social media exposes him to less diverse information that contains a variety of different viewpoints. A 2012 Facebook study, performed by Facebook, suggests otherwise. The study results suggest, “Online social networks may increase the spread of novel information and diverse viewpoints”. However, the can’t trust a social media network, Facebook, that it is not sure about the outcome of their own platform, or the effects that it will have on their consumers. Ultimately, Pariser’s situation occurs among Americans of different ideologies, who use social media, as well. As a result, Americans become more polarized and become more close-minded due to the fact that social media exposes them less to other people of different ideologies who have other opinions. This is proven by a 2015 study over ideological structure and consistency in the age of polarization. The study results show that polarization in American politics is increasing and the changes in social media make it easier for citizens to see