Junior Zoe Zaner scrolls through social media on her phone. Social media is overflowing with hyperpolarized political content and misinformation that negatively influences young minds.
By Juliana Stimac
A platform filled with infinite knowledge and content, yet throughout their hours of scrolling, a viewer will only see one perspective.
Whether the political influence is subtle or obvious, content is increasingly polarized and founded in misinformation. This creates a vast array of harmful consequences, especially to more vulnerable audiences.
Younger generations who grew up with social media are less informed on political candidates. According to the Pew Research Center, older adults tend to know more about U.S. civics and politics compared to young Americans aged 18 to 29.
Although the education system plays a role in this trend, it is undeniable that social media also has a large, perhaps more significant, impact on inaccurate political knowledge. Within hours of scrolling, it is easy to come across accounts dedicated to radical political views, both very far right and left leaning, that dictate ideas about politics. The constant influx of radical political content harmfully dictates the younger generation’s views and spreads misinformation.
On sites like TikTok, Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram, political content is everywhere, being posted from both Democrats and Republicans alike. While TikTok has banned paid political advertising on the site since 2019, influencers still manage to discuss politics online, however they prioritize sharing opinions and inciting interest in their content as opposed to sharing unbiased, fact-based information.
According to an investigation by Newsguard, a website based around dispelling misinformation online, when a sample of searches on prominent news topics was done on TikTok in 2022, almost 20% of the videos that came up included some form of misinformation.
Additionally, apps like TikTok are intended to provide endless entertainment to users, making them an even more dangerous vessel for inaccurate or extreme political information. The algorithm is designed to tailor a viewer’s feed to their unique interests. Because it has the ability to micro-target hyper specific content, the algorithm feeds people an endless stream of videos that can keep them hooked for hours.
The Harvard Political Review described the algorithm as creating “political echo chambers.” This algorithmic trend, coupled with natural confirmation bias, reinforces a viewer’s opinions without exposing them to any opposing views. In this way, people are limited to exposure of only their own opinions which creates less diverse political places. In the end, those who need unbiased information the most are only being exposed to hyper-partisan rhetoric.
The effects of hyper-partisan rhetoric and misinformation on social media users take hold from an early age. As soon as a child is exposed to social media, they are susceptible to the influence of strong political stances, especially due to their ongoing mental development. As a result, they will struggle to think critically and form their own opinions.
Now that half of Generation Z, people born from 1997-2013, are able to vote, it is crucial that those who have grown up under the influence of social media remain educated on global and domestic issues. Additionally, It is pertinent that schools educate youth on how to recognize misinformation and stay engaged in the political realm.