“There are two opportunities and challenges for online community construction”

Team members at the conference on “Age of Politics and Polarization” held on Tuesday. |Photo source: Akhila Easwaran

Online community building provides unique opportunities for connecting with people, but also challenges. While digital spaces unite like-minded people, they often cultivate echo chambers and polarized perspectives. In a panel discussion held here by Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) students said that to build healthier online communities, it is necessary to focus on common goals, empathy and constructive dialogue. Hindu Crowded on campus Tuesday.

Students are talking to curator Narayan Lakshman, Hindu huddle and comment editing, HinduOn “Age of Politics and Polarization: What does it mean today’s balanced and subtle position mean?” Sadhya Padmanabhan said that in the past, people could opt out of global discussions and remain neutral, only to know locally.

Today, widespread access to smartphones and social media has caused global events to occur to everyone, especially youth, and often put pressure on them to form opinions. She added that social media makes it difficult to grow or change opinions without being labeled as hypocrites. As past views are broadcast publicly, individuals feel pressured to align with group beliefs. She added that identity is now closely linked to the position within the group, limiting the ability to publicly express, learn and develop perspectives.

According to Samyuktha Vijay, today’s politics goes beyond elections and policies, focusing on emotional appeal and identity. To gain support, all parties use personal beliefs to lead to polarization. Nowadays, daily choices are political, reflecting the interweaving of politics with personal identity and personal values. She also said the Common 19-19 pandemic was a major turning point globally. It reshapes geopolitics, accelerates China’s rise, and changes India’s regional role. The pandemic rather than uniting the world, it exposes deep polarization.

Rohan Krishnan said social media has enabled the community to form and amplify polarized perspectives and parties that involve these divided populations, especially those who attract young people. According to him, Covid-19 has brought the whole world together for the first time, and many people express sympathy for people from faraway places. He also said that despite the technology’s community-building, many modern online communities lack inclusion and nurture Echo Chambers.

Shreenath Nair said the political scope has expanded and will continue to expand. He also highlighted the role of social media in geopolitics, attracting a larger public. Building meaningful communities involves introspective personal privileges and sympathy with others’ struggles. He added that acknowledging bias helps build a more inclusive, solution-oriented community that promotes understanding and positive change.