How Does Political Polarization Continue To Create Tension In The United States?

Political tensions will continue to rise in the United States as both parties continue to be uninterested in the beliefs of the opposing party. Many politicians have engaged in polarization, which has further divided republicans and democrats. The rise of social media has allowed individuals to find social circles that share their beliefs, as well as block out people and content that doesn't align with what they believe. How can we create solutions to the problems that every American deals with if citizens are not willing to talk about them? America is a democracy that needs its citizens to address problems within its infrastructure and make choices that benefit present and future generations.

Politicians have used polarization to create a divide and extreme dislike among both political parties. Political polarization occurs when government representatives begin to incorporate personal ideologies in an extreme manner during their political career. For example, a Republican politician begins to speak about their capitalistic and religious beliefs to their Republican audience. They are
Platforms like Facebook and Instagram tailor their content by examining posts you've liked and the people you follow. This allows people to separate themselves from spaces that they aren’t comfortable with. The algorithm recommending content that’s relevant to you already is a prime example of confirmation bias. It presents information about existing values and beliefs that confirms your stance on a subject. I believe that every American that uses social media should be more open to listening to others' opinions online. Once we become open to listening to others' opinions, they are more likely to be more receptive to our opinions. “Teaching people to listen better to those with different political views is helpful for those who want to understand one another” (The