Contribution of Social Media to Political Polarization Among University Students

Abstract

This study investigates the contribution of social media to political polarization among university students from the United States and Mongolia. Data was collected using an online survey distributed to currently active students at the University of Southern Indiana (USI) and the National University of Mongolia (NUM).
The findings of this study reveal that social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and X (formerly known as Twitter) are social media platforms used among students the most. Students spend approximately 2-5 hours per day on social media on average. While respondents perceive social media to be an efficient tool for political engagement such as getting news, the data report suggests selective exposure behaviors in students, such as muting, blocking or unfollowing individuals who had differing views from them, which contribute to the creation of echo chambers.
The study highlights the role of social media in strengthening ideological divergence while encouraging civic involvement. These findings emphasize the nuanced relationship between social media and political polarization.