It is widely known that the divide within the U.S. is larger than ever. Is social media a strong driver of this divide? It has driven wedges between family and friends – especially concerning politics. Let’s take a look.
The Rise of Social Media
Social media became popular in the U.S. between 2005 and 2010, with Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube leading the surge. By 2005, only 5% of American adults used social media; by 2019, that number had skyrocketed to 72%. The rise of internet availability, especially on smartphones and tablets, has made social media widely available to everyone. Here is the history of social media:
- 2003–2004: MySpace and Facebook launched, introducing profile-based identity, friend networks, and user-generated content.
- 2005: YouTube debuted, revolutionizing video sharing and viral content.
- 2006–2009: Twitter and LinkedIn gained traction, expanding social media into microblogging and professional networking.
- 2010s: Smartphones and mobile apps accelerated adoption. Platforms like Instagram (2010), Snapchat (2011), and TikTok (2016 globally, 2018 in the U.S.) reshaped how Americans engaged with content.
- 2020s: Social media became nearly universal, with platforms optimizing for engagement, personalization, and monetization. Apps like Threads and X (formerly Twitter) continue to evolve the landscape.
Has Social Media Emboldened People and Created More Contention?
Absolutely! Social media has created a generation of “keyboard warriors.” This term often describes individuals who engage in aggressive, performative, or hypercritical discourse online, often without the accountability or nuance required in face-to-face interactions. Former boxer Mike Tyson famously said, “Social media made y’all way too comfortable with disrespecting people and not getting punched in the face for it.” Now, I’m not advocating punching anyone, but there is an underlying message here about respecting others that is pertinent.
There is little respect for others on social media. That can turn a casual conversation with different ideas into an electronic shouting match, usually ending with one or both sides calling the other names. Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences. We saw that recently with the Jimmy Kimmel situation. The problem with much social media is that too many people walk away from the keyboard angry and upset, which can then poison those around them.
The recent Presidential Election has been a major contributor to the divide, and social media’s anonymity has exponentially heated public discourse. Family and friends’ relationships have been permanently broken based on who they voted for, and politicians have only exacerbated the temperature with their political rhetoric.
Most platforms offer different membership levels, with some allowing users to earn money based on their posts. While the situation is bad enough, people sometimes post things that aren’t true to enflame others and drive high engagement with their posts. The high engagement could lead to monetary benefits for the poster. While there is not much we can do to calm things down immediately, every person can take responsibility for their actions to calm things down.
The Catholic View
Jesus would speak to rising contention not with condemnation but with a call to reconciliation, humility, and love—rooted in truth and the dignity of every person. He absorbed the worst of human contention—betrayal, mockery, violence—and responded with forgiveness.
Jesus spoke about peace and humility during His ministry:
Matthew 5:9 – “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
Matthew 5:23-24 – “Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”
We must look at our own motives and approach before we judge others:
- Do we treat others respectfully while we are online?
- When tension increases in a conversation, do we “go along” with the flow or step back and try to de-escalate?
- Do we seek reconciliation or retaliation?
- It is better to leave a heated conversation than to continue trying to convince others to tone it down.
We can’t change others; we can only change ourselves and how we react to others. This approach may change the dialogue in an online conversation, resulting in better discourse. We must take the first step. Please let me know how it goes and share your thoughts on this article in the “Comments” section.
Peace
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