The Impact of Social Media on Political Polarization in Pakistan: A Case Study of GCWUS Students

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to investigate how social media algorithms affect public opinion and political polarization in Pakistan. Polarization is caused by a number of indicators, including economic strategies, social concerns, and wide-ranging societal ramifications. Although social media can help create a more balanced society, in Pakistan, its use is fostering political biases through disinformation, which exacerbates political polarization. This study is descriptive in nature and quantitative approach has been used. The target population of this study was the female students of BS and MS Programme of Social Sciences faculty of GCWUS. Maximum sample size, by using Cochran Formula of this study was calculated 333 and the responses received were 341. The data was collected with the help of conducting survey designed by Google Form. Students of final semesters were taken as study sample by using Cochran’s Formula for taking sufficient sample size from the population. Political biasness and intolerance are observed very common among youth by conducting survey. The study recommends developing new policies to protect the youth from being exploited by social media or political parties.