The Polarisation Predicament and Media’s Influence on Partisanship

Abstract

This paper delves into the polarising effects of media’s influence on the current political landscape. It comprehensively analyses- from an empirical and political approach- media such as cable news and social media. The primary objective is to emphasise the criticality of media literacy and the need for vigilance regarding the selective exposure that media can offer. It will provide insights into the future of political media communication and its role in shaping public opinion and whether that opinion can inform democratic outcomes, such as the election results of a candidate or party. This paper is working on the hypothesis that there is a direct correlation between media consumption and the alignment of public opinion with the political views that people are most exposed to online. Specifically, it postulates that individuals who are exposed to biased or one-sided media coverage are more likely to develop opinions that align with those perspectives, whereas those with diverse media exposure are more likely to form varied opinions.