American politics have become drastically more polarized since the early 1990s, according to esteemed political analyst David Wasserman and the Pew Research Center. In 2016, less than 10 percent of all counties and parishes were decided by single-digit margins.
In 1992, that statistic was at 39 percent.
In 2016, nearly 1,200 counties were decided by margins surpassing 50 percentage points. In 1992, only 93 counties held that statistic. These startling digits are indicators of the shift toward American polarization and the influence of tribalism. One factor of this shift is confirmation bias and a lack of media literacy among Americans.
I don’t pretend to be a political expert by any stretch of the imagination. However, I do claim to be media literate thanks to my time spent at the Manship School of Mass Communication. I know the difference between sponsored content and uninfluenced articles. I know that any credible journalistic entity won’t publish “fake news” or frame a story with political motivations. I know that it’s good to consume media from a variety of outlets across the political spectrum. I know every news article should be analyzed with a critical eye and mind. I know what confirmation bias is and how to break my bubble. I know the difference between a news and opinion article.
Not every citizen has the privilege to attend college, much less receive an education from the Manship School. This is why it is critical for college students, especially communication students, to share their knowledge of these concepts with friends, family and whoever cares to listen.Confirmation bias is one of the easiest and most effective notions to convey.
Confirmation bias was originally a psychology term that describes the tendency to exclusively seek out information that aligns with your pre-existing views.
Years ago, people got their broadcast news from one of three channels: ABC, CBS and NBC. Now, we have options such as MSNBC, Fox News, CNN, BBC and Al Jazeera, among others. We choose what kind of broadcast news we want to consume. The same goes for internet searches. And in an age of data collecting, your search engine probably knows what links you’re more likely to click on.
By reaffirming our biases, we aren’t giving ourselves the option to self-correct. We end up living in an information bubble to the point where our biases become fact and any other views are automatically dismissed as false.Confirmation bias can be broken by seeking out different viewpoints and news from outlets considered to be on the opposite side of your political ideology.
I’m not sure where I fall on the spectrum in regards to economics — I’m simply not educated enough on those matters to form an opinion — but I do consider myself a social liberal. Therefore, I tend to get my news from outlets considered more liberal than others. However, I will watch Fox News and read The Washington Times or The Federalist on occasion.
I might be more inclined to consume that media with a grain of salt, but I’m learning how the other side sees things. I’m now able to take those views into consideration. Imagine if your friends and family did the same thing. Imagine if they paid attention to all sides of the debate. Taking the time to understand arguments from all sides and then having discourse is an integral part of democracy. This is one crucial way the First Amendment is meant to function.
Whether or not this information is new to you, please go out and share this knowledge with whoever will listen. We’re informed students, so let’s act like it. Let’s do our civic duty and be a part of the solution. Journalism is an essential pillar of democracy, so let’s make sure we understand how that pillar functions and do our part in supporting it.
James Smith is a 21-year-old mass communication senior from Grand Coteau, Louisiana.