The impact of social media on polarization in the society

TL;DR

This paper investigates how social media influences societal polarization using activity-driven models, revealing a transition from consensus to polarization driven by media influence, supported by analytical and numerical analysis.

Contribution

It introduces an analytical framework using activity-driven models to understand the impact of social media on societal polarization, highlighting the role of media influence in phase transitions.

Findings

Supercritical pitchfork bifurcation triggers polarization

Transition points from polarization to consensus are analytically derived

Numerical simulations validate the analytical results

Abstract

The advent of social media platforms has revolutionized information consumption patterns, with individuals frequently engaging in these platforms for social interactions. This trend has fostered an environment where people gravitate towards information that aligns with their preconceived notions, leading to the formation of echo chambers and polarization within the society. Recently introduced activity-driven models have been successful in capturing the dynamics of information propagation and polarization. The present study uses this model to explore the impact of social media on a polarized society. By considering the varying influence of media, ranging from exposing individuals to contradictory views to reinforcing existing opinions, a supercritical pitchfork bifurcation is observed, triggering a transition from consensus to polarization. The transition points from polarization to consensus are derived analytically and is validated through numerical simulations. This research sheds light on the complex interplay between social media dynamics and societal polarization.