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Ideology and polarization set the agenda on social media
Title / Series / Name
Scientific Reports
Publication Volume
15
Publication Issue
1
Pages
Editors
Keywords
Ideological Alignment
Online Discourse
Online Engagement
Polarization
Public Debates
Social Media
Multidisciplinary
SDG 13 - Climate Action
Online Discourse
Online Engagement
Polarization
Public Debates
Social Media
Multidisciplinary
SDG 13 - Climate Action
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14018/27919
Abstract
The abundance of information on social media has reshaped public discussions, shifting attention to the mechanisms that drive online discourse. This study analyzes large-scale Twitter (now X) data from three global debates—Climate Change, COVID-19, and the Russo-Ukrainian War—to investigate the structural dynamics of engagement. Our findings reveal that discussions are not primarily shaped by specific categories of actors, such as media or activists, but by shared ideological alignment. Users consistently form polarized communities, where their ideological stance in one debate predicts their positions in others. This polarization transcends individual topics, reflecting a broader pattern of ideological divides. Furthermore, the influence of individual actors within these communities appears secondary to the reinforcing effects of selective exposure and shared narratives. Overall, our results underscore that ideological alignment, rather than actor prominence, plays a central role in structuring online discourse and shaping the spread of information in polarized environments.
Topic
Publisher
Place of Publication
Type
Journal article
Date
2025
Language
ISBN
Identifiers
10.1038/s41598-025-19776-z