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Social Media and Fragmentation
Summary
Fragmentation increases social and individual vulnerability to manipulation, propaganda, mis- and dis-information. Social media’s ability to rapidly amplify information is a tool that can, and has been, wielded to produced positive and harmful results. Socially conscious consumers and rising consumer activism have harnessed the power of social media to leverage change. Social media is being used to hold politicians, government officials, business leaders, and organizations accountable to a degree largely unseen before. Social, political, and economic thoughts that previously were expressed behind closed doors, are increasingly aired publicly. Illegal, morally, and ethically ambiguous behaviors are more easily and quickly exposed increasing everyone’s vulnerability to reputation risks. The speed and impact of these risks are causing organizations to rethink risk management and what it means to proactively handle risks.
Risk management isn’t the only regulatory framework under potential restructuring due to social media. Questions surrounding data, free speech, regulation and management of online platforms, the battle between nationalist and populist views, and cybersecurity are relevant across the world. Where do responsibilities fall when it comes to data security, creating safe online environments, or appropriate levels of regulation of citizens online actions?
As governments and organizations try to find the right balance, they are in a race against the building pressures of confident, empowered people, like socially conscious consumers, harnessing the power of social media to use their voice and leverage change, through things like the rising consumer activist movement. As individuals feel empowered, and have increased access to platforms, trust in established organizations and governments are declining, mis- and dis-information is increasing, polarization across political, social, religious, race, gender, and more divisions are likely to increase as well. These issues coupled with loss of shared trust is the loss of shared realities and stabilization create vulnerabilities.
Shared reality aids our ability to sense-make and act collectively. If our capacity to understand the norms and realities of other groups, fragmentation across these silos occurs and is amplified with each new ‘sense-making’ silo that emerges without the ability to comprehend counter-narratives. While the loss of shared narratives or the emergence of counter-narratives can foster disruption, they also create opportunities to rebuild shared identities and narratives in constructive/positive/better ways. Increasing a sense of connection and strengthening belonging in communities will likely be one of the most powerful ways to combat rising polarization and fragmentation of society. If there aren’t adequate solutions implemented, collective anxiety will continue to rise and people will find the comfort of certainty amongst ideologies and theories that can be problematic. Some of this fragmentation and instability results from increasing pressures on social welfare systems, healthcare, urbanization, population declining, and more. When other aspects of the system are strained, and instability rises, vulnerability to unrest increases.