P134. What Do We Mean by Polarization? A Systematic Review of Social Media Research

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Abstract

Polarization, especially in the context of social media, has emerged as a growing phenomenon of interest. However, there is a lack of consensus on the precise conceptualization of this term, which complicates its analysis and measurement in the literature. This study presents a systematic review of the empirical literature on polarization in social media, aiming to clarify what researchers mean when they talk about polarization and whether they consider it a cause or consequence of other social phenomena.

Through an analysis of studies published in the past five years, up to six different definitions of polarization were identified, with a predominant focus on political polarization. Regarding its relationship with other factors, most studies consider polarization as a consequence of social, political, and media variables, with only 9% of studies treating it as a cause. Additionally, nineteen variables were identified as correlating with polarization, including technological, social, psychological, and political variables.

This analysis highlights the urgent need for a common definition and more consistent methods for addressing polarization on social media, which would facilitate more precise and comparable future research.

Author

• Sara Sampayo Sande, Crímina Center - Miguel Hernández University of Elche