Despite widespread concerns that social media exacerbate incivility and partisan polarization, few solutions to address this issue have been identified. We developed a mobile chat platform to study how varying levels of anonymity shape conversations about politics. In contrast to the popular wisdom, we find that carefully structured anonymous online conversations can reduce polarization.
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References
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This is a summary of: Combs, A. et al. Reducing political polarization in the United States with a mobile chat platform. Nat. Hum. Behav. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-023-01655-0 (2023).
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Depolarization via anonymous mobile online communication. Nat Hum Behav 7, 1422–1423 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-023-01656-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-023-01656-z
