Randomized trials show pausing social media reduces political polarization

Evidence

I should say that although criticizing or ‘dunking’ on the other side systematically coincided with higher rates of sharing, our study does not provide causal evidence of polarization. But recent randomized trials have revealed causal evidence: asking people to discontinue using social media for a month actually reduces polarization. — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof, 459

Categorization

• QUESTION: Which randomized trial is this — the Allec/Allcott study? Would be worth pulling the exact numbers and mechanism.
• XREF: connects to: Quitting social media for a month causally reduces political polarization — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof: Why Misinformation Infects…, 459; Social media amplifies rather than causes pre-existing biases in susceptible users; Exposing people to opposing viewpoints increases rather than reduces polarization — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof: Why Misinformation Infects…, 453 (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• Quitting social media for a month causally reduces political polarization #corroborates (0.95) — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof, 459
• Social media amplifies rather than causes pre-existing biases in susceptible users #complicates (0.80)
• Exposing people to opposing viewpoints increases rather than reduces polarization #contradicts (0.75) — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof, 453
• Exposure to opposing political views often increases rather than reduces polarization. #contradicts (0.75) — , The Braided Reading EPUB, 1475