"An acceptance of violence and extremism, and the dehumanization that is integrated with that viewpoint, comes when you stop thinking that you have a shared future with other people,"
"Instead of bringing people together, social media algorithms attuned to political identity 'just tear us apart,'"
"We don't have any real friends, but we can hate the same people together on social media and so that becomes our tribe."
Republican Utah governor Spencer Cox and Democratic U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss agree on the need to regulate social media and AI to lessen political polarization and reduce violence. Both link rising extremism and dehumanization to erosion of a shared reality caused in large part by online platforms and algorithmic targeting. Social media algorithms amplify identity-based divisions, fostering tribal hatred instead of genuine friendships and common humanity. The fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah State University elevated concerns about online-driven divisiveness. Both leaders call for interventions to rebuild shared reality and a sense of shared future across political lines.
Read at Harvard Gazette
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