Intergroup Communication

As political debates shift to social media, researchers explore how online discourse may contribute to social division. Adding to this debate, this entry outlines how key features of online debate, such as relative user anonymity, the delocalization of the political discourse, and the array of micro-communication affordances as in form of “liking” and “sharing” may prompt users to process available information through the lens of ingroups (“us”) and outgroups (“them”). Since identitarian content promises revenue, these dynamics may be further reinforced by content producers and platform algorithms. The prevailing normative discussion climate should thereby influence the extent to which group thinking exacerbates animosity between groups. Some existing evidence paints a bleak picture, suggesting that divisive content may be particularly “successful” in attracting user’ engagement. However, even within polarized contexts, there remains a desire for a more harmonious online atmosphere, suggesting that a better social media landscape will be possible.