Social Media deepens Social Divisions | Editorials by CSS & PMS Aspirants
The following article, “Does Social Media deepens Social Divisions or Promote Inclusivity?”, is written by Maryam Bajwa, a student of Sir Syed Kazim Ali. Moreover, the article is written on the same pattern, taught by Sir to his students, scoring the highest marks in compulsory subjects for years. Sir Kazim has uploaded his students’ solved past paper questions so other thousands of aspirants can understand how to crack a topic or question, how to write relevantly, what coherence is, and how to include and connect ideas, opinions, and suggestions to score the maximum.
Social media’s role in bridging societal gaps or exacerbating divisions remains a contentious debate in the contemporary competitive era, where digital platforms dictate narratives and shape opinions. Undoubtedly, advocates argue that these platforms democratize discourse, which allows marginalized voices to be heard. However, reality often tells a different story: misinformation, echo chambers, and digital disparity thus create a fractured world instead of a unified one.
Moving forward, as the digital landscape evolves, one pressing issue looms large: whether social media fosters inclusivity or entrenches social divisions. Thus, analyzing its multifaceted influence reveals a stark imbalance; despite its promise of connectivity, social media has increasingly become a breeding ground for misinformation, polarization, and widened socio-economic disparities.
A Widening Educational Gap in the Digital Era
To begin with, while social media thrives on accessibility, millions worldwide remain excluded due to economic and infrastructural constraints. Undeniably, the digital divide, particularly in education, highlights that social media exacerbates inequality rather than bridging it. For instance, in India, only 8 per cent of rural households own a computer, forcing students to rely on smartphones or abandon their education altogether. Meanwhile, elite institutions seamlessly transition to digital learning, which leaves underprivileged communities struggling to keep pace. As a result, what should be a level playing field in education becomes further entrenched in class barriers, thus privileging those with resources over those without.
Echo Chambers and the Death of Open Discourse
Furthermore, while social media platforms claim to offer diverse perspectives, they often function as echo chambers, which reinforce, not challenge, individual worldviews. Truly, this occurs because algorithmic curation ensures that users engage primarily with content aligned with their preexisting beliefs, limiting exposure to opposing perspectives. For example, a 2022 Pew Research study revealed that 64 per cent of users rarely encounter dissenting political views online, leading to ideological rigidity and diminished critical thinking. Therefore, social media, which should be an opportunity for open discourse, often transforms into a cycle of confirmation bias that divides communities along political and ideological lines while eroding empathy – an essential component of societal cohesion.
Misinformation and the Weaponization of Social Media
In addition, while the ability to disseminate information instantly is a defining feature of social media, it is also its greatest liability. Unfortunately, sensational and emotionally charged content garners more engagement than factual reporting, making misinformation a powerful tool for division. And its striking example is the 2024 Palestine-Israel conflict, where fabricated narratives flooded online spaces – fueling outrage and deepening geopolitical rifts. As a result, social media becomes a battleground for manipulated narratives, turning it into an arena for ideological warfare. Hence, misinformation remains one of the most potent drivers of societal division in a world where perception often outweighs truth.
Trolling, Cyberbullying, and the Silencing of Minority Voices
Moreover, besides its role in spreading falsehoods, social media has become a hostile environment for marginalized groups. Mainly, trolling and cyberbullying are rampant, which disproportionately affect individuals from minority communities. For instance, platforms like Quora and Reddit, once heralded as spaces for intellectual discourse, now host polarizing debates where emotional rhetoric often drowns out constructive dialogue. Therefore, social media has become a tool that fosters hostility instead of an inclusive culture and alienates those who claim it to empower, further entrenching social divisions.
The Socio-economic Divide and the Illusion of Digital Opulence
Last but not least, social media has played an evil role in exacerbating class disparities. Notably, the culture of vlogging, influencer marketing, and curated digital personas projects an unattainable lifestyle, which fosters resentment among lower-income demographics. For example, lavish travel, luxury fashion hauls, and high-end dining experiences dominate online spaces, perpetuating unrealistic standards of success and widening socio-economic gaps. Similarly, studies indicate that 30-40 per cent of low-income families lack internet access, highlighting the growing digital chasm between the affluent and the underprivileged. Thus, instead of democratizing opportunities, social media, once an accessible platform for all, now remains a privilege for those with economic means.
Social Media as an Equalizing Force
However, despite its flaws, social media proponents argue that it democratizes discourse by providing a platform where all voices – regardless of race, class, or geography – can be heard. Indeed, they cite the rise of grassroots movements; online activism; and digital storytelling as evidence of its inclusivity. For example, social media has facilitated unprecedented global mobilization, from the #MeToo movement to climate activism. However, these successes often mask the underlying reality: what truly determines the influence of a narrative is access to resources and visibility. More specifically, monetized platforms like YouTube and TikTok prioritize content that appeals to specific demographics, which limits the reach of underrepresented communities. Hence, the promise of inclusivity – while appealing – remains largely aspirational.
A Tool for Community Building and Advocacy
Another argument in favor of social media is its ability to unite people around common causes. For example, digital platforms have played an instrumental role in fostering collective action like raising awareness about human rights abuses and crowdfunding for medical emergencies. Yet the issue remains whether this connectivity benefits all groups equally. In reality, prominent organizations and well-funded campaigns dominate the digital space while smaller, grassroots efforts struggle to break through the noise. Furthermore, algorithms designed to amplify engagement often prioritize mainstream narratives over marginalized voices. Therefore, social media, which should be a platform for universal representation, usually reinforces systemic inequalities.
Diagnosing critically, social media claims to unite but often divides societies by fueling misinformation, echo chambers, and class disparities. While it aids activism, the influence remains lopsided toward the privileged. Therefore, without systemic reforms, social media would continue to deepen societal fractures instead of bridging them.
Ending the debate, the paradox of social media is that while it promises connectivity, it often achieves the opposite. In fact, the digital divide in every domain creates an environment where divisions are not only sustained but also actively reinforced. While its potential for inclusivity cannot be denied, the reality remains that these platforms serve as both enablers and accelerators of societal fractures. Therefore, whether social media can bridge rather than widen divides depends on greater accountability; algorithmic transparency; and digital literacy. Until then, the issue of whether social media fosters unity or deepens division remains unresolved.
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