Social media segregation

2022
ireland

Social media segregation refers to the separation or division of individuals, groups, or content on social media platforms. This can occur based on various factors such as race, gender, religion, political beliefs, socioeconomic status, or geographic location.

Segregation on social media can lead to the formation of echo chambers, where individuals are only exposed to information and perspectives that align with their own beliefs and ideologies. This can perpetuate polarization and contribute to the spread of misinformation and hate speech.

To address social media segregation, it is important for individuals to deliberately seek out diverse perspectives, engage in respectful dialogue with those who have different viewpoints, and actively work to bridge divides within the online space. Additionally, social media platforms can implement measures to promote diversity and inclusion, such as algorithms that prioritize diverse content or features that facilitate meaningful discussions between users from different backgrounds.

Further reading

Wheatley D.; Vatnoey E. (2022) "Understanding attitudes towards social media segregation: spatial metaphors in the discussion of Twitter blocklists", Information Communication and Society, 25(1), pp. 1-16. Routledge. DOI: 10.1080/1369118X.2020.1749696