Since the early 2000s, social media has drawn in more people exponentially every day. As people are increasingly drawn to apps such as Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and more, these public spaces have increasingly become hubs for political discussion, as well as sources from which Americans get their news.
However, with the lack of quick fact-checking information on these platforms, user feeds can quickly fill with uncivil, hostile discussions plagued by misinformation. These platforms also have the possibility to amplify anonymous outrage, conspiracy theories and political hostility.
In a 2023 survey by the Public Religion Research Institute, it was revealed that a quarter of Americans believe that “violence may be necessary to save the country.”
Today, the polarization of American politics is more apparent than ever before. Both parties have consistently moved farther away from the ideological center since the 1970s, which is especially prevalent on these social media platforms. Controversial and extreme opinions are more likely to gain views and attention. On Reddit, a popular social news aggregation and forum site, a study showed that controversial content was seen nearly twice as much and traveled nearly twice as fast. Coverage of controversial figures do the same, and social media algorithms push this content to more people than ever before.
When an individual’s feed is filled with content from exclusively one side, it also feeds into the illusion of an immense divide. And though the divide is larger than ever, American voters are less ideologically divided than they believe they are, with the misperception growing larger the more politically involved a person is.
The use of social media isn’t the only factor pushing Americans towards opposite ends of the spectrum. Political conformity drives people to draw a clear divide between Democrats and Republicans, creating intolerance between members of each party. On the flip side, people who harbor different opinions from those around them are likely to not share their thoughts for the sake of being accepted.
Social media is the perfect example of the echo chamber of politics in America. Social media tends to promote a herd mentality, whether that be seen through boycotts, the rise of cryptocurrencies, or political beliefs.
The online trend of cancel culture is one of the most prominent forms of political intolerance. It’s a trend of “_ hates __, so let’s hate __.” Many don’t bother to educate themselves and come to their own decision, but instead run with whatever the majority believes.
Following the recent Trump victory in the 2024 election cycle, many Democrats went online to vent, filming their fresh reactions and sharing their thoughts. Many of these videos were filled with hate, cursing the people who voted for Trump and shaming them for being unintelligent.
But were they not unintelligent when the same demographics voted for Biden in 2020? The quantity of these videos made is evidence to the echo chamber of American politics, which is seemingly driven by emotion instead of reason. According to the Father of the Constitution, James Madison, “It is the reason, alone, of the public, that ought to control and regulate the government. The passions ought to be controlled and regulated by the government.”
How do we fix this?
The first step to fixing the polarization of politics via social media is by fact-checking. By simply taking the time to look over and double check the information you consume, you can prevent yourself from being misinformed. Many websites, like Straight Arrow News, have been popping up recently to address this growing problem, giving perspectives from both sides of the political spectrum and revealing the blind spots of each party.
Extremes on both sides are also detrimental to politics. Democracy is fueled through discourse, so be open to discussing with strangers online and hear what they have to say about what they believe in.
Human etiquette has also been lost in social media. When we have basic decency and respect with those we are chatting with online, healthy conversations can be had. So remember, even though you are in a heated debate with @Trump_Is_Jesus, there is a human being behind that blasphemous profile picture of Trump on the cross.
