Research Project

The contemporary American political landscape is characterized by polarization, hyper-politicization, and extremism, driven by a interplay of media engagement and societal disconnection. While existing literature often focuses on the direct influence of media on political trends, this study proposes a broader examination, considering media's impact on societal patterns, particularly among Gen-Z and Millennials given their unique understanding of social media and technology. The proposition driving this study is that the nature of modern social media platforms and users’ manner of engagement has harmed individuals’ ability to connect with those around them in real life; this lack of connection has manifested itself politically via polarization, hyper-politicization, and extremism. A survey methodology was employed to explore the relationship between social media engagement, perceived connection with a physical community, and political beliefs, drawing on existing research to establish measures for each variable. Though currently in the preliminary data stage, this study will ultimately use descriptive statistics to discern the nature of the relationship between the aforementioned variables, with the ultimate goal of better understanding the root of polarization, hyper-politicization, and extremism. By contextualizing the political crisis within broader societal shifts driven by social media engagement, this study aims to offer valuable insights for addressing the growing rifts within our democracy.