This obviously isn't an original observation but I still think almost everyone is underestimating how much the Internet drives polarization on every controversial topic.

People with pro-Israel sympathies go on social media and see 24/7 coverage of antisemitic violence. People with pro-Palestinian sympathies go on social media and see 24/7 coverage of violence against Palestinians in Gaza or elsewhere.

@binarybits The internet is bad for polarization but it works through and interacts very poorly with the existence of primary elections. They were never a good idea, no other country uses them as heavily as we do, and we should stop twitter.com/conjurial/stat…

@binarybits The story would need to be about the whole media ecosystem, not just internet users. Old people watching cable news are more polarized now. “Greater Internet use is not associated with faster growth in political polarization among US demographic groups” pnas.org/doi/abs/10.107…

@binarybits So how do you explain the increase in polarization starting in the late '90s, well before social media?

@binarybits @NateSilver538 Right. AM radio, cable "news", legacy print have almost nothing to do with it.

@binarybits @NateSilver538 Yes twitter.com/firasd/status/…

@binarybits And since engagement is profitable, there is a big incentive for people to fan the flames.

@binarybits I think that was CGP Grey's point here youtube.com/watch?v=rE3j_R…

@binarybits twitter.com/MacGraeme42/st…

@binarybits @NateSilver538 True, but unfortunate result of human nature. Social media does provide an opportunity to exchange ideas and listen to the other side, but instead it's an opportunity to reinforce your views.

@binarybits @NateSilver538 I don’t think people are underestimating it still. They just don’t see a practical solution yet.

@binarybits @NateSilver538 Sounds profitable

@binarybits @NateSilver538 Being uneducated and/or lazy and therefore susceptible to propaganda, has far more to do with polarisation. I don’t need the internet to spread bad ideas. I need masses of the willingly manipulated.

@binarybits @NateSilver538 Agreed. People are always blaming MSM for polarization and bias. I 100% believe that social media is the biggest culprit.

@binarybits It drives so many things and I think confirmation bias is one of the biggest contributors. It also makes people in even pretty good places in life are in the worst time humanity could offer. All of it on some level feels driven by some lack of education

@binarybits @NateSilver538 Engagement is all internet wants. And no one is more engaged than someone who is angry/mad

@binarybits @NateSilver538 People constantly underestimate the effects of putting a printing press in everyone's pocket and it's changing the world much faster than most people, especially those stuck in legacy media, realize.