The internet promised a place where people from diverse backgrounds could find connection and understanding. But has it instead become a deeply polarised medium where echo chambers and ideological extremism make meaningful common ground harder to find than ever?

We're joined by Dr Andres Reiljan - political scientist at the European University Institute - whose research into affective polarisation puts him at the exact intersection of politics, psychology, and what the digital world is doing to how we see each other.

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In this episode we investigate the mechanics of affective polarisation in a digital age, examine how algorithms amplify divisive sentiment without most people realising it, explore the psychological toll of constant exposure to conflict, and ask whether technology that created the polarisation problem can ever meaningfully solve it.

00:00 - Introduction to affective polarisation

02:30 - What affective polarisation actually means and why it matters

04:30 - The role of politics in driving digital division

07:05 - Party versus leader polarisation: what's the difference?

09:17 - The biggest misconceptions about polarisation

11:35 - How algorithms amplify divisive content

13:44 - Factual belief polarisation: when we can't agree on reality

16:13 - Navigating disagreement with curiosity rather than conflict

18:02 - The outsized influence of loud voices in political discourse

19:56 - The mechanics of how polarisation spreads and sticks

24:36 - Social media's specific role in the polarisation crisis

29:11 - Finding common ground in a fragmented world

32:24 - The psychological toll of living in a polarised environment

34:06 - Practical strategies for overcoming polarisation

36:09 - Can technology be used to combat what technology created?

Guest links - Dr Andres Reiljan

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=uBEitnwAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

Twitter/X: https://x.com/AReiljan

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andres.reiljan

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/areiljan.bsky.social