Social Media Polarization Essay

We are living in the age of technology, where we can consume information from multiple people and produce information in seconds whether it is correct or not. Consuming and producing information can be found and given faster than ever before. Generation Z has grown up with this technology, but they have also grown up without needing to know how to convey this information face to face. In Exposure to Opposing Views on Social Media Can Increase Political Polarization by Christopher Bail, he talks about how technology has polarized politics, which therefore polarizes communities. But how does consuming and producing information help build communities? How does one consume and produce information well? The four articles, Exposure to Opposing Views

In Exposure to Opposing Views on Social Media Can Increase Political Polarization by Christopher Bail, it talks about the influence social media can have on an individual's views. In the article Bail says that social media sites create echo chambers that “prevent people from being exposed to information that contradicts their preexisting beliefs.”(1) Bail expresses that social media has been blamed before for polarizing others through the use of their “echo chambers”. This polarizes and disconnects communities due to the lack of contrasting views, which lessen enrichments offered when given the other side of an issue. When people are able to look at the “other side” they are able to become less polarized and see the “other sides” point of view. Political polarization is a prime example of polarization in America. Bail says that social media “limits our exposure to opposing political views” this poses an issue because “ social media is their [peoples] primary source of news”. Since more people are getting their news from social media it harms the community due to social media not being able to produce information well or provide information to people of opposing viewpoints. When people aren't able to see the other side it polarizes them which in turn does not allow them to make

The qualities Cronon feels are essential are “listening… reading and understanding…talking with anyone…writing clearly, persuasively, and movingly…being able to solve problems… respecting rigor… being able to face humility and self-criticism… understanding on how to get things done… empowering the people around