The 2024 Election: How Social Media Fueled a Firestorm of Anger and What We Can Do About It
The 2024 Election: How Social Media Fueled a Firestorm of Anger and What We Can Do About It
The 2024 presidential election results sparked a firestorm on social media, highlighting a disturbing trend: the rise of affective polarization. Jaimie Harnois, a University of Connecticut student, exemplifies this trend. Upon waking to the news of Donald Trump’s victory, her first action wasn’t a celebratory post, but rather unfollowing anyone celebrating the win. She felt their political stance was a personal attack.
Harnois isn’t alone. A University of Chicago Institute of Politics poll revealed that 38% of registered voters have unfriended or unfollowed someone due to political views. This reflects a deepening divide: Pew Research Center data shows a dramatic increase in negative views of opposing parties, from 43% a decade ago to 62% for Republicans regarding Democrats and 54% for Democrats regarding Republicans in 2022.
UConn political science professor Seth Warner explains that while social media and polarization have always been intertwined, the link wasn’t immediately obvious. Early research suggested balanced exposure. However, the rise of influencers and curated content means users now actively choose their information streams, creating echo chambers. While only about 20% of users are extremists, their highly emotional, often profane posts dominate the conversation. A post by @SydneyAneglaa (“If you voted for Trump, don’t ever speak to me again!”) garnered 132,000 likes on X, dwarfing the 728 likes NBC News’ election announcement received.
This “affective polarization”—viewing opponents as abhorrent and dangerous—makes compromise nearly impossible, according to a New York University report. However, hope remains. Warner suggests reminding people that ideological differences aren’t as vast as they seem, emphasizing that not all Democrats are LGBTQ+ or all Republicans are millionaires. UConn student Grettel Atterberry maintains friendships with people holding opposing views, navigating conversations by avoiding contentious topics. Others, like Meriden resident Ahmed Hernandez, simply choose to disengage from heated political discussions.
The 2024 election’s aftermath underscores the urgent need to bridge the divide. While the anger and division on social media are undeniable, stories like Atterberry’s and Hernandez’s offer a glimmer of hope: that amidst the storm, civility and understanding can still find a foothold.
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