Why Political Polarity Makes People Turn on Each Other
I saw Charlie Kirk’s murder on Instagram.
Husband, father, and barely over 30, Charlie amassed both a devoted following and committed opposition in his short life.
Kirk’s unwavering stance on American politics and Christianity led some to celebrate and others to despise. But how did society reach the point of regarding violent murder as casual viewing on social media?
That’s the question I’ve been turning over in my mind. Like you, I have my own belief system on human nature–and although they anchor my worldview, they don’t rationalize away the shock of viewing a public execution.
Whether it’s the story of Charlie Kirk or George Floyd, the war between Israel and Palestine, or the stabbing of a young woman on a train, frenzied media, dehumanization, and desensitization are increasingly shaping human interactions.
Here’s a look at what factors enable people to view atrocity on their cell phones and respond with a joke, continue scrolling, or leave a comment they’d never have the strength to say in person.
Identity and Belonging
In the US, loyalty to a political party used to be passed down by families, driven by factors like socioeconomics, race, and religion. Political affiliation was a sense of belonging more than an individual identity.
Today, people highly value individualism but still seek the shelter of a like-minded community that will shield them from “the other camp”. Politics aren’t just a set of opinions or policy preferences anymore, they’re a person’s core identity. Roots are in a need to belong somewhere.
Us Vs. Them
Anyone with opposing views is seen as a threat to a person’s very self.
The media inflames this viewpoint to a fever pitch, offering constant validation. No need to have a solid understanding of a concept, policy, or person to form an opinion–you need only a YouTube short and a community of commentators to create a neuropathway.
Political opponents and their supporters are portrayed as existential threats rather than simply as individuals with differing views. Roots are in core-identity.
Social Media Amplification
Algorithms reward extreme viewpoints, thriving on outrage and conflict. Our brains are constantly looking for confirmation of our thoughts, and social media algorithms serve it on a silver platter.
Amplification builds echo chambers where people try to outdo each other in outrage.
Making hating “them” your whole personality can provide a sense of purpose, superiority, and community. Roots are in fear and anger.
The Final Result: Dehumanization
Threats to core identity, ongoing validation (through community or media), and echo chambers on social media dehumanize anyone who doesn’t support a person’s beliefs. They’re no longer a person; they’re a demon. They’re a symbol. They’re everything that’s wrong with the world, which is assigning an incredible amount of power.
When you’ve only ever seen a person online, it becomes easier to dehumanize them. On one end that may mean making a mockery of someone and on the other it could mean justifying, calling for, or celebrating violence towards someone.
The roots are in control, the need to belong, core-identity, fear, and anger, and they flourish with a super-charged community behind a device.
People feel like a different person behind a screen–smarter and bolder–leading them to say things online they would never say in person because they don’t feel the real weight, shock, or horror of violence and death.
The roots are in validation. I don’t think most people that I walk past at the grocery store celebrate murder—it’s more about expressing hostility in the most extreme way possible to feel powerful or affirmed.
And for many people, that shows up in the way they present on social media, a powerhouse outlet for reinforcing identity, belonging, and perceived righteousness.
