The Influence of Social Media on Politics Flashcards

Vocabulary terms and definitions regarding the impact of social media on political extremism, polarisation, tribalism, and conspiracy theories.

Extremism

When someone holds particularly extreme or outrageous political beliefs.

Violent extremism

When a person or group decides that fear, terror and violence are justified to achieve ideological, political or social change, and then acts accordingly.

Radicalisation

The process where a person’s beliefs move from being relatively conventional to being radical, leading them to want a drastic change in society.

Political polarisation

The divergence of political attitudes away from the centre, towards ideological extremes.

Ideological polarization

Polarisation characterized by differences between the policy positions held by different groups.

Affective polarization

Polarisation characterized by an emotional dislike and distrust of political out-groups.

Political tribalism

The behaviour of people who value loyalty and support of a certain political tribe over any other principles.

Conspiracy theory

A belief that some secret but influential organization is responsible for an event or phenomenon.

Indoctrinated

The process of being brought into a harmful belief system, which high-risk individuals like young people or the easily-swayed may face on social media.

The Social Dilemma

A video referenced in the lecture regarding the influence and impacts of social media.