Facebook Users Perceive Greater Polarization

Daily Facebook use is associated with thinking the American public is more highly polarized, according to a nationally representative ISCAP study. Perceptions of polarization have been steadily increasing since 2012. But even after taking into account demographic differences between Facebook users and nonusers, the extremity of political attitudes and party affiliations, daily Facebook use predicts perceiving a more polarized America. Interestingly, Facebook use does not correspond to holding more polarized views, just perceiving a more polarized country.