# Social Media Caused Extreme Polarization in Society and Cancel Culture Because [[Social Media Platforms Are Echo Chambers by Design]], and because [[Echo Chambers Cause Polarization]], it follows that social media itself causes polarization. But the polarizing effect of social media does not stop there. Any remote communication medium strips away many of the cues that normally humanize our interactions. Tone of voice, facial expression, body language, and the immediate awareness of another person’s presence are often lost in text-based exchanges. This distance makes it more likely we will caricature others, assume the worst of their motives, and respond with aggression. Empathy tends to erode, replaced by suspicion, mockery, and hostility, as the people we argue with online become usernames and avatars, rather than neighbors, coworkers, and fellow citizens. When combined with the us-versus-them mentality that thrives in echo chambers, this tendency towards dehumanization on [[Social Media Algorithms Are Designed to Maximize Engagement|platforms designed to maximize engagement]] escalates into mob mentality, where people feel compelled to attack those they disagree with. ![[The Dark Psychology of Social Networks#^qu62t2]] ![[Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid#^yk0psw]] ![[Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid#^pznkzr]] This mob dynamic led to communities policing away moderate opinions, and deputized vigilantes to enforce ideological purity, eventually giving birth to [[Cancel Culture]]. ![[Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid#^iltu8c]]