Is Facebook Making People More Polarized?


Facebook's algorithms don't help the cause. Newsfeeds are filled with the friends a person most often interacts with, typically those with strong ties, researchers said.

Grevet suggests that the social media site should sprinkle in a few status updates on both sides of political issues. That would expose people to different opinions, which are typically held by weak ties.

"Designing social media towards nudging users to strengthen relationships with weak ties with different viewpoints could have beneficial consequences for the platform, users and society," said Grevet.

The study surveyed more than 100 politically active Facebook users in the spring of 2013 amid debates about budgets cuts, gay marriage and gun control regulations.

The majority of participants were liberal, female and under the age of 40, mirroring the traditional Facebook user.

More than 70 per cent said they don't talk about politics with their friends with different opinions. When they saw something they didn't agree with, 60 per cent said they ignored it and didn't comment.

When they did, sometimes it made the person question the relationship and disassociate and from the friend.

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