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Educational Development and Exploration

The Role of Social Media in Shaping Public Discourse:A Critical Analysis of Digital Platforms and Polarization

OU Xiru

Abstract


This article discusses the revolutionary impact of social media on public discourse and how it has polarized through notions such as media ecology, agenda-setting, and cultural hegemony. Platforms such as X, WeChat, TikTok, Douyin, and Instagram expand ideological cleavages by way of algorithmic filtering, user interaction, content viral spread, and affordances. Drawing on mixed methods—content analysis of 5,000 X posts, and surveys of 2,000 users—the study identifies how these dynamics democratize information but produce discursive fragmentation, echo chambers, and disenabled dialogue. Countermeasures include platform redesign, stepped-up moderation, user empowerment, and media literacy, and have implications for communications research and policy.

Keywords


Social Media; Polarization; Algorithms; Echo Chambers; Public Discourse; Media Literacy

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18686/ede.v4i2.14168

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