Using Social Media Feeds For At Least One Day Through Monito

Using Social Media Feeds For At Least One Day Through Monitoring Ide

Using social media feeds for at least one day. Through monitoring, identify one example of someone in their feed(s) using a news story or other source of news and information to make a politically or socially charged point that could, lead to polarization. Prepare a short, 1-page summary of the source used by the feed, the point being made by the person, and why it is perceived as polarizing. The summary need not identify the person. Using APA Style.

Paper For Above instruction

In today's digital age, social media platforms serve as significant venues for sharing information, opinions, and news. These platforms often become battlegrounds of ideological differences, where users can disseminate information that reinforces their biases and possibly contributes to social polarization. Monitoring social media feeds over a day reveals how individuals use news stories or information sources to emphasize particular viewpoints, often leading to heightened divisions in societal beliefs and attitudes.

One illustrative example observed during a day of social media monitoring involves a user sharing a news story related to immigration policies. The source of the news was a widely recognized online news outlet that covered recent federal immigration reforms. The post highlighted a specific policy change that purportedly increased border security measures, accompanied by emotional language emphasizing national security concerns. The person sharing this story used the news to support a narrative advocating for stricter immigration controls, framing the policy as a necessary step to protect the nation from potential threats.

The point being made by the user revolves around the idea that border security is paramount to national safety. By emphasizing crime statistics linked to undocumented immigrants and stressing the importance of sovereignty, the user underscores a perspective that favors restrictive immigration policies. The language employed was charged, with words such as "threat," " invasion," and "security," designed to evoke fear and suspicion about immigrants. This framing, while rooted in a real news event, simplifies complex policy debates and presents an us-versus-them dichotomy.

This post is perceived as polarizing because it frames immigration as an existential threat rather than a multifaceted social issue. Such narratives tend to group immigrants into a monolithic "other," thus denying the nuances involved, such as economic contributions, diversity benefits, and pathways for lawful integration. Moreover, the emotional and fear-based language used amplifies in-group versus out-group sentiments, potentially leading to increased social division.

Research indicates that emotionally charged content on social media significantly impacts viewers' attitudes, reinforcing existing beliefs and fostering polarization (Pennycook et al., 2019). When users share or endorse news that aligns with their ideological beliefs, they not only shape their perceptions but also influence their social circles, creating echo chambers that resist opposing views (Baer & McGraw, 2019). In the context of this example, the use of a news story to support a restrictive immigration stance exemplifies how social media can perpetuate polarized discourses.

Furthermore, the brevity of social media posts constrains complex debates, often reducing nuanced policies to catchy slogans or emotionally charged narratives. This simplification can hinder productive dialogue and escalate tensions among different social groups. The shared content in this instance operates within an audience already inclined toward skepticism of immigration, reinforcing pre-existing biases rather than fostering understanding or discussion.

In conclusion, social media feeds serve as powerful tools for disseminating information, but the way news stories are framed and shared can significantly contribute to polarization. The example of the immigration policy discourse underscores how emotionally loaded language and simplified narratives may deepen societal divisions. Promoting media literacy and encouraging nuanced discussions are vital to mitigating polarization in the digital age.

References

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