1. Depersonalisation: Social media can create a false sense of intimacy and familiarity, leading people to treat others online in ways they wouldn't in real life. They may feel less inhibited in making derogatory or even harmful comments because they do not have to face the person.
2. Simplification: Social media promotes the sharing of short, simplified messages and images, which can lead to oversimplified and stereotypical representations of people, reducing their complexity and individuality.
3. Fragmentation: The way social media presents information, with its emphasis on brief updates and snippets, can create a fragmented understanding of an individual, separating their personal interactions from their role in various domains and making it easier to view them simply as objects or characters in others' stories.
4. Exclusion and polarisation: Algorithms and echo chambers created by social media platforms often limit users' exposure to diverse perspectives and information, fostering the polarisation of society and deepening biases against out-groups. This reinforces divisions between 'us' and 'them', making it easier to perceive some groups as 'others' that are fundamentally different.
5. Public Shaming: The viral spread of harmful and humiliating remarks about an individual on social media, often in the context of so-called 'cancel culture,' contributes to a damaging perception of their credibility and their inherent humanity.
6. Lack of Accountability: Users can often hide behind fake identities or anonymity, facilitating a culture of unchecked and unmoderated communication, fostering negative perceptions and dehumanising narratives through false or sensational claims.
Overall, the digital affordances and culture of social media can shape user behaviour and reinforce existing social biases that undermine the understanding of complex realities and humanity in others.
