Partisan Conflict on Social Media: Empirical Evidence and Policy Challenges

Authors

• Juan S. Morales
• Anne E. Wilson

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2025

Department

Laurier Institute for the Study of Public Opinion and Policy

Abstract

• Social media exploits human biases, heightening the visibility and spread of negative, extreme, and divisive content
• Public opinion and norms are distorted by disproportionately active fringe voices while moderates are muted
• Politicians adapt to incentives, increasing incivility, moralization, and out-group demonization
• Preferences for content moderation differ by users’ ideology, complicating regulation and risking ideological bias in discourse
• Platforms alone may not be able to reverse a self-perpetuating spiral of divisiveness – education and policy thus play a crucial role

Comments

Originally published in EconPol Forum 26 (4) 52-57 CESifo Munich. https://www.ifo.de/econpol/4pW 

Recommended Citation

“Partisan Conflict on Social Media: Empirical Evidence and Policy Challenges | Ifo Institute | EconPol.” Ifo Institute | EconPol, 2025, www.ifo.de/en/econpol/publications/2025/article-journal/partisan-conflict-social-media-empirical-evidence-and-policy.