Youth, affective polarization and trust: a transnational perspective

Abstract

The role of social media engagement in dynamics of affective polarization and trust is weakly understood for countries in the Global South and particularly among youth: a group that has least faith in democracy (OSF 2023). This research, located in Brazil, India, South Africa and the UK, will explore the extent to which young people's social media engagement with online manifestations of party polarization influences their levels of social and institutional trust, and consequently, their social and political behaviours. With the results of the research, we aim to uncover entry-points for depolarization. In Brazil, India, and South Africa, we will focus on understanding dynamics of polarization, trust and behaviours among urban youth. In the UK, the project will work with diaspora youth from these three countries, analysing their social media engagement with polarized debates in their countries of origin. Our interdisciplinary study will combine qualitative, participatory research to capture youth voices, with social media analytics (SMA) that will analyse online polarized debate at scale. Preliminary findings will inform the design of deliberative MiniPublics, followed by another round of qualitative research, which will explore whether it is possible to engage youth in ways that reduces polarized debates and increases social and institutional trust. Lead applicant is the Institute of Development Studies (UK), with Co-leads at University of Witswatersrand (South Africa), CEBRAP (Brazil), and PDAG as Cooperation Partner (India). Each methodology will be co-designed by T-AP partners, involving close collaboration between social scientists and data scientists. A Dissemination and Communication Working Group will be formed across the project partners to implement (country-level and global) engagement activities, with bespoke outputs for academia, policy makers, civil society and youth. Strong stakeholder engagement will allow for tailored communication and dissemination of process, progress and results throughout the project. (AU)