POLITICAL POLARISATION IN THE DIGITAL AGE: CAUSES ANDCONSEQUENCES

Abstract

Digital age refers to the current era marked by the widespread use of digital technology and the internet and characterized by the rapid shift from traditional industry that the industrial revolution brought through industrialization to an economy based on information. Political
polarization connotes the increasing divergence of political attitudes and beliefs between individuals or groups with different ideological perspectives within a society. Political polarisation in the digital age is driven by complex interactions between digital media, psychological biases, and social factors. Therefore, this paper examines political polarisation in the digital age: Causes and consequences. The paper specifically examines the concept of political polarisation, causes of political polarisation, consequences of political polarisation and strategies for mitigating political polarization. The paper concludes that the digital age has fundamentally altered the landscape of political discourse, presenting challenges that require multifaceted solutions. It is recommended among others that government should compel the social media companies to modify algorithms to prioritise diverse perspectives and reduce the visibility of highly emotive or divisive content. Also, government and other stakeholders should educate people about media literacy and critical thinking so as to enable them recognise and resist polarising contents