Likes, retweets, and polarization: $hBrian Kaylor

A key part of today's polarized society is the polarized and polarizing world of social media. Although social media platforms bring the potential of more democratic involvement, greater public dialogue, and faster flow of news and information, the dark side of such Web 2.0 platforms also shoul...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Review and expositor
Main Author: Kaylor, Brian (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Sage [2019]
In: Review and expositor
Year: 2019, Volume: 116, Issue: 2, Pages: 183-192
RelBib Classification:CH Christianity and Society
NCC Social ethics
ZG Media studies; Digital media; Communication studies
Further subjects:B flaming
B Polarization
B Balkanization
B Social media
B Twitter
B Facebook
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
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Summary:A key part of today's polarized society is the polarized and polarizing world of social media. Although social media platforms bring the potential of more democratic involvement, greater public dialogue, and faster flow of news and information, the dark side of such Web 2.0 platforms also should concern church leaders and theologians. Already-existing polarization in society leads to a polarized use of social media as individuals seek like-minded online communities. Social media, however, also adds to that polarization by providing echo chambers, and features of social media encourage speed over accuracy and more aggressive communication. Three ways in which social media both represents and adds to polarization in politics, society, and churches are balkanization, as people separate into homogenous, polarized communities, the speeding nature of communication that allows inaccurate and overly emotional information to spread, and the flaming that occurs as anonymity and depersonalization of these communication platforms encourage aggressive and even violent rhetoric.
ISSN:2052-9449
Contains:Enthalten in: Review and expositor
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1177/0034637319851508