Social Media and Political Polarization in Pakistan: A Case Study of Pakistani Youth

Abstract

Globally, political polarization is rising, and Pakistan is experiencing a significant increase in this phenomenon. Today's political elites, elected politicians, and common people are all divided. Due to the differences in political viewpoints, beliefs, and attitudes under the immense influence of social media, Pakistan's youth are today politically polarized. The public has shifted away from more even-handed political programming to more adversarial and one-sided broadcasts and articles as a result of the contemporary, fragmented, high-choice environment in social media. These shows frequently draw partisan viewers who use polarized programming as a form of ideological confirmation. The study emphasizes the function and significance of social media algorithms, which are crucial in updating users' news feeds and delivering content in line with their search habits. The study concludes with the formulation of effective countermeasures and detailed plans on how to counter this growing threat by employing different methods instead of traditional and conventional methods, which typically divide the public and the government functionaries. Initial findings suggest the rise in polarization among youth is linked to the extensive use of social media platforms.