Social Media-Driven Polarisation in the United States: Mechanisms, Policy Gaps, and Recommendations

International Journal of Humanities and Social Science

© 2025 by SSRG - IJHSS Journal

Volume 12 Issue 3

Year of Publication : 2025

Authors : Arush Arora

10.14445/23942703/IJHSS-V12I3P106

How to Cite?

Arush Arora, "Social Media-Driven Polarisation in the United States: Mechanisms, Policy Gaps, and Recommendations," SSRG International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, vol. 12,  no. 3, pp. 37-43, 2025. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23942703/IJHSS-V12I3P106

Abstract:

Currently, political polarisation in the United States has reached crisis levels, posing a threat to the integrity of its long-standing democratic system. Yet many remain unaware of the role social media platforms play in influencing this division through algorithmic curation and misinformation. On the user level, social media platforms exploit vulnerabilities such as media illiteracy and perceived anonymity to drive engagement for their own economic incentive. Current policies, including Section 230 reforms and state-wide initiatives, show promise but are misdirected in addressing the underlying mechanisms on social media that propagate polarisation. This paper examines the glaring policy gap surrounding social media regulation and its lackluster effects on curbing polarising content on platforms. In response, this paper evaluates alternative policy models outside the United States to propose a comprehensive set of policy recommendations tailored to today's context. Together, this paper aims to dissect and raise awareness of media-driven polarisation to safeguard democracy and social cohesion.

Keywords:

Algorithms, Digital regulation, Echo chambers, Misinformation.

References:

[1] Kevin Arceneaux et al., “The Influence of News Media on Political Elites: Investigating Strategic Responsiveness in Congress” American Journal of Political Science, vol. 60, no. 1, pp. 5-29, 2015.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link] 
[2] Noa Yachot, The Magna Carta of Cyberspace Turns 20, ACLU, 2017. [Online]. Available: https://www.aclu.org/news/free-speech/magna-carta-cyberspace-turns-20-interview-aclu-lawyer-who-helped
[3] ASIS International, Unwell: National Survey Finds Americans Are Polarized and Distrustful, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/03/pandemic-readiness/polarized-distrustful-culture/
[4] Chris Vallance, Meta is Ditching Fact Checkers for X-Style Community Notes. Will They Work?, BBC News, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g93nvrdz7o
[5] Levi Boxell, Matthew Gentzkow, and Jesse M. Shapiro, “Is the Internet Causing Political Polarization? Evidence from Demographics,” NBER Working Paper Series, National Bureau of Economic Research, 2017.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]  
[6] Business Insider, 11 Experts Explain How Our Digital World Is Fueling Polarization, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.businessinsider.com/how-internet-social-media-fuel-polarization-america-facebook-twitter-youtube-2020-12#selective-thinking-8
[7] COBS Insights, The Ripple Effects of Political Polarization in Society, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://cobsinsights.org/2024/10/16/the-ripple-effects-of-political-polarization-in-society/
[8] Noam Gidron,James Adams, and Will Horne, “American Affective Polarization in Comparative Perspective,” Cambridge University Press, 2020.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link] 
[9] Peter J. Benson, and Valerie C. Brannon, Congressional Research Service, Section 230: A Brief Overview, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF12584#:~:text=%C2%A7%20230%2C%20provides%20limited%20immunity,)(2)%2C%20they%20may%20not
[10] Emily Kubin, and Christian von Sikorski, “The Role of (Social) Media in Political Polarization: A Systematic Review,” Annals of the International Communication Association, vol. 45, no. 3, pp. 188-206, 2021.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link] 
[11] Yasmine Ganemtore, How to Navigate Political Polarization Through Media Literacy, Fair Elections Center, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://fairelectionscenter.org/media/how-to-navigate-political-polarization-through-media-literacy/
[12] Emre Erdoğan, and Pınar Uyan-Semerci, “Othering in Politics: How Affective Polarization Undermines Democratic Philia?,” Frontiers in Political Science, vol. 7, pp. 1-17, 2025.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link] 
[13] Alejandra Crespo, DSA Moderation Requirements, GetStream, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://getstream.io/blog/dsa-moderation-requirements/
[14] Noam Gidron, James Adams, and Will Horne, “Toward a Comparative Research Agenda on Affective Polarization in Mass Publics,” APSA Comparative Politics Newsletter, vol. 29, pp. 30-36, 2019.
[Google Scholar] [Publisher Link] 
[15] Eric Goldman, “Why Section 230 Is Better than the First Amendment,” Notre Dame Law Review: Reflection, vol. 95, no. 1, pp. 33-40, 2019.
[Google Scholar] [Publisher Link] 
[16] Harris School of Public Policy, Polarization Solutions List. [Online]. Available:  https://harris.uchicago.edu/files/polarization-ideas-list.pdf
[17] Jaron Lanier, Allison Stanger, and Audrey Tang, Sunset and Renew: Section 230 Should Protect Human Speech, Not Algorithmic Virality, Harvard Kennedy School, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://ash.harvard.edu/articles/sunset-and-renew-section-230-should-protect-human-speech-not-algorithmic-virality/
[18] Jennifer McCoy, Polarization Harms Democracy and Society, ICIP, 2019. [Online]. Available:https://www.icip.cat/perlapau/en/article/polarization-harms-democracy-and-society/
[19] Leginfo California, AB-873 Pupil Instruction: Media Literacy: Curriculum Frameworks, 2021. [Online]. Available:https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB873
[20] Jennifer McCoy, Tahmina Rahman, and Murat Somer, “Polarization and the Global Crisis of Democracy: Common Patterns, Dynamics, and Pernicious Consequences for Democratic Polities,” American Behavioral Scientist, vol. 62, no. 1, pp. 16-42, 2018.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link] 
[21] SWNS, Americans Spend 2 and a Half Hours ‘Dreamscrolling’ Each Day, New Poll Finds, NY Post, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://nypost.com/2024/05/20/us-news/average-american-spends-nearly-2-and-a-half-hours-dreamscrolling-each-day-poll/
[22] Paul M. Barrett, Justin Hendrix, and J. Grant Sims, Fueling the Fire: How Social Media Intensifies U.S. Political Polarization –And What Can Be Done About It, NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights, pp. 1-32, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://bhr.stern.nyu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/NYUCBHRFuelingTheFire_FINALONLINEREVISEDSep7.pdf
[23] New York Senate, NY State Senate Bill 2023 - S6686, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S6686
[24] A Survey of Teen Information Attitudes, Habits and Skills, News Literacy in America, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://newslit.org/news-literacy-in-america/
[25] Ceren Çetinkaya, The Politics of Misinformation: Social Media, Polarization, and the Geopolitical Landscape in 2025, OIIP Austria, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.oiip.ac.at/en/publications/the-politics-of-misinformation-social-media-polarization-and-the-geopolitical-landscape-in-2025/
[26] Amy Mitchell et al., Political Polarization & Media Habits, Pew Research Center, 2014. [Online]. Available: https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2014/10/21/political-polarization-media-habits/
[27] Shanto Iyengar, Gaurav Sood, and Yphtach Lelkes, “Affect, Not Ideology: A Social Identity Perspective on Polarization,” Public Opinion Quarterly, vol. 76, no. 3, pp 405-431, 2012.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link] 
[28] Meghan Anand et al., All the Ways Congress Wants to Change Section 230, SLATE, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://slate.com/technology/2021/03/section-230-reform-legislative-tracker.html
[29] Daryl Lim, What Would Happen If Section 230 Went Away?, The Conversation, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://theconversation.com/what-would-happen-if-section-230-went-away-a-legal-expert-explains-the-consequences-of-repealing-the-law-that-built-the-internet-253326
[30] Joshua A. Tucker et al., “Social Media, Political Polarization, and Political Disinformation: A Review of the Scientific Literature,” SSRN Scholarly Paper, pp. 1-95, 2018.
[Google Scholar] [Publisher Link] 
[31] U.S. Congress, S.2972 – 117th Congress (2021-2022), 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/2972
[32] Latest Vanderbilt Unity Index Shows the U.S. Continuing Its Trend Toward Increased Political Polarization, Vanderbilt University, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2024/02/14/latest-vanderbilt-unity-index-shows-the-u-s-continuing-its-trend-toward-increased-political-polarization/
[33] Natali Helberger, and Pamela Samuelson, The DSA as a Global Transparency Regime, Verfassungsblog, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://verfassungsblog.de/the-digital-services-act-as-a-global-transparency-regime/
[34] David Caragliano, Real Names and Responsible Speech, Vox Media, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.yalejournal.org/publications/real-names-and-responsible-speech-the-cases-of-south-korea-china-and-facebook
[35] Sam Wineburg et al., “Lateral Reading on the Open Internet: A District-Wide Field Study in High School Government Classes,” Journal of Educational Psychology, vol. 114, no. 5, pp. 893-909, 2022.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link] 
[36] Nadav Borenstein et al., “Can Community Notes Replace Professional Fact-Checkers?,” arXiv:2502.14132, pp. 1-18, 2025.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]