BlogPost #029

(#29) Alessandro Galeazzi - 11th January, 2024
(University of Padua)

Talk recording (YouTube)

RESEARCH TALK
“The evolution of polarization in online debates”

Abstract: Growing concerns have been raised about the widening ideological divides that pervade our society across critical issues, spanning from vaccinations and climate change to politics. This increasing segregation into opposing groups poses numerous threats to society, potentially resulting in a variety of consequences, from individual risky behaviors like vaccination avoidance to collective dangerous actions such as violent riots.

The abundance of data available from online platforms has facilitated the examination of multiple facets within public debates. Here, we leverage online data to delve into the concept of polarization in online debates, showing how it is possible to track its evolution on social media, and its interconnectedness with phenomena like echo chambers. Our study spans the evolution of polarization across various topics and contexts, from climate change to Pakistani politics. Finally, we discuss proposed countermeasures aimed at mitigating the phenomenon of extreme polarization.

DISCUSSION
"How to get most out of your research visits?"

Abstract: Visiting different research places is a crucial step in young researchers' careers, both personally and academically. However, experiences can vary significantly depending on the location and the type of visit. I'll discuss my visiting experience, how I tried to make the most of my visit to CEU last spring and what I got from that.

Hey, NetPALS, we are back with our blogs! Are you curious about how social media shapes our opinions? From vaccines to climate change, @DeveloperGale discussed this at our last seminar with his talk “The evolution of polarization in online debates”.

First, Alessandro introduced the notion of polarization: key societal issues can split the population into two communities with opposite views.  The discussion focused on the impact of polarization in public discourse, highlighting how social media foster divisions.


Alessandro then introduced a framework to study the evolution of polarization in online debates. He analyzed public data on topics, from climate change to Pakistani politics, underlying connections with other aspects of social interactions like the emergence of echo chambers. Finally, Alessandro proposed countermeasures to mitigate extreme polarization, although their effectiveness is still not clear!

In the second part, Alessandro shared his experience visiting CEU. He focused on the significance of such experiences within one's career trajectory. He also emphasized their value in forming personal connections and shared some fun memories with his colleagues in Vienna.

The discussion is still open, if you want to share your opinion leave a comment on Twitter! The talk is available on our Talk recording (YouTube).