SOCIAL MEDIA'S ROLE IN POLITICAL POLARIZATION: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ALGORITHMIC AMPLIFICATION AND DEMOCRATIC RESILIENCE

Abstract

This research article examines the causal mechanisms through which social media platforms contribute to political polarization in contemporary democracies. Drawing on empirical studies from multiple disciplines, we argue that social media's algorithmic architecture systematically amplifies affective polarization by creating segregated information ecosystems, privileging emotionally charged content, and reinforcing partisan identities. Through comparative analysis of the United States, Brazil, and Germany, we demonstrate that while social media is not the sole driver of polarization, it operates as a significant accelerant that transforms ideological differences into visceral intergroup animosity. Our findings indicate that platforms' engagement-driven business models create perverse incentives that undermine democratic discourse, with particular consequences for electoral integrity, public trust, and collective action. The article concludes with policy recommendations for platform governance and digital literacy initiatives aimed at mitigating these effects while preserving freedom of expression.