Affective Polarisation and Emotional Distortions on Social Media. (October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tanesini, Alessandra
• Is Part Of: Royal Institute of Philosophy supplement. Volume 92(2022)
• Page Start: 87
• Page End: 109
• Publication Date: 2022-10
• Subjects: Philosophy -- Periodicals; 100
• DOI: 10.1017/S1358246122000261
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1358-2461

Abstract

Abstract: In this paper I argue that social networking sites (SNSs) are emotion technologies that promote a highly charged emotional environment where intrinsic emotion regulation is significantly weakened, and people's emotions are more strongly modulated by other people and by the technology itself. I show that these features of social media promote a simplistic emotional outlook which is an obstacle to the development and maintenance of virtue. In addition, I focus on the mechanisms that promote group-based anger and thus give rise to affective polarisation. In the final section, after a discussion of the positive value of some forms of anger, I argue that SNSs should not be designed to prohibit or suppress anger, but that its encouragement should also be avoided. I conclude with a suggestion about how this might be achieved.