How Social Media Impacts Polarization in Youth: A Reflection
by Julia M., a volunteer with the Edgemont Youth Press
As I write this, thousands of posts, reels, and tweets are being created. Someone is sharing fake news, while someone else is calling real life fake. Social media, once designed to foster connection, has become the world’s biggest echo chamber. How did something meant to unite us become so divisive?
Perhaps, we can blame it on the algorithms which prioritize sensationalism and promote emotionally charged content to reinforce biases rather than encouraging productive dialogue. During elections, this effect intensifies as everyone, including myself, is bombarded with content that vilifies opposing ideas instead of encouraging critical thinking.
As you read this, a new president of the USA has likely already been inaugurated. Canada will probably face an election this year. For young people still shaping their identities, this environment is both empowering and overwhelming. As they face pressure to pick sides, nuance and details disappear in the race for likes and retweets.
Abraham Lincoln once asked, “Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?” Perhaps, I’m being overly optimistic in believing that finding common ground despite the divide is possible. If connection was the goal of social media, reclaiming it would require courage—the courage to engage with differing views, think critically, and most importantly listen with empathy.
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