By: Yasmine Ganemtore, Fair Elections Center Communications Intern
Political polarization in the United States is influenced by various factors, and one significant contributor is media illiteracy. But what exactly is media illiteracy? In essence, it’s the inability to critically evaluate and understand the information we consume. This leads people to rely on biased sources or, even worse, fall prey to outlets peddling outright false information. While some might brush this off as no big deal, the reality is that media illiteracy is playing a significant role in deepening America’s political divide, with far-reaching consequences for our democracy.
When a person holds strong political views, they may only seek out information that aligns with their existing beliefs and avoid opposing viewpoints.This selective approach is called confirmation bias, where individuals only engage with sources that validate their preconceptions, ultimately contributing to media illiteracy, cognitive biases and political polarization.
Insights from the Pew Research Center’s study “Political Polarization & Media Habits” sheds light on the impact of selectively seeking information to confirm one’s beliefs. The study revealed that “liberals and conservatives inhabit different worlds” when it comes to news consumption, with “little overlap in the news sources they turn to and trust.” Notably, conservatives tend to gravitate towards a single news source, with 47% citing Fox News as their primary information outlet. In contrast, liberals are “less unified in their media loyalty”, drawing information from a wider variety of news outlets. This diversity of sources could potentially expose them to a broader range of perspectives, though this doesn’t necessarily guarantee a more balanced viewpoint.
The study also highlighted behavioral differences between conservatives and liberals on social media platforms. Conservatives were found to actively seek out information that aligns with their beliefs, particularly on Facebook, while liberals were more likely to block or unfriend individuals with opposing opinions. While these behaviors might seem different on the surface, they ultimately serve the same purpose: maintaining the comfort of pre-existing beliefs and opinions.
Social media plays a significant role in reinforcing confirmation bias and contributing to political polarization. The information shared on social platforms can often be misleading, perpetuating confirmation bias and deepening societal divisions. When individuals selectively curate the accounts they follow, whether they are news outlets or individual users, they tend to disregard opposing viewpoints. Moreover, social media platforms utilize algorithms that tailor content to match users’ preferences, creating an echo chamber of familiar content. This algorithmic approach aims to retain user engagement by presenting content that aligns with their existing preferences, inadvertently reinforcing cognitive biases.
Social media users may also seek out specific accounts that spread misinformation, often through clickbait hashtags or false images and is driven by the desire for views, likes, or to promote the account owner’s beliefs. This deliberate effort to share content that aligns with an audience’s pre-existing beliefs further amplifies confirmation bias and contributes to the polarization of society.
The consequences of these dynamics are far-reaching. As users are repeatedly exposed to content that confirms their existing beliefs, their views may become more entrenched and extreme. Simultaneously, they become less likely to encounter or seriously consider alternative perspectives. This has led to a breakdown in communication across political divides, as different groups increasingly operate with entirely different sets of “facts” and assumptions about the world.
As we enter this election season, the issue of political polarization becomes increasingly prominent. In this era of constant digital connectivity, we’re all susceptible to getting caught in the crossfire of conflicting information and heated debates. Thus, it is crucial to be discerning about the information we encounter, whether it comes from biased news outlets or content creators delivering political content. This awareness is especially important when dealing with exaggerated headlines or the downplaying of significant issues, such as the migrant crisis, which will undoubtedly be a major topic during this election year.
Presidential debates serve as a prime example of why fact-checking and thorough research are so crucial. It’s essential that we don’t simply accept either candidate’s statements at face value. Instead, we should make a concerted effort to verify claims with widely trusted sources, educate ourselves on the issues being discussed, and be aware of the rhetoric being employed to sway our vote. This approach not only helps us make more informed decisions but also contributes to a healthier democratic process.
As a former content creator for two organizations Yvote and Next Generation Politics, I’ve had the privilege of working on a wide range of educational content related to social issues like environmental and criminal justice. When researching and designing these materials, I found that there were several resources that proved invaluable in helping me create engaging and informative content.
One of the most effective ways to approach this was by seeking out a diverse range of news outlets that aligned with different political ideologies. This allowed me to get a well-rounded view of the issues at hand, rather than relying on a single perspective.
Another simple yet powerful strategy I employed was to search online for similar mentions of the same information from credible news sources. This helped me to identify patterns and trends, and gain a more nuanced understanding of political events and policies. Not only did this approach benefit my work as a content creator, but it also helped me to become a more informed and engaged citizen. One resource I’ve found particularly useful is PolitiFact, a reputable fact-checking site that helps to spot misinformation. In today’s digital age, it’s more important than ever to be discerning about the information we consume online.
As we get closer to Election Day, I believe it’s essential that we approach our online interactions with care and consideration. As Americans who will be voting and shaping the future of our country, we must be mindful of the content we engage with – not just for our own benefit, but also for the good of others.
