Digital Polarization in the Age of Misinformation

Political and social polarization has intensified in recent years, with social networks playing a significant role. This article analyzes the spread of fake news and its impact on citizen information.

Social Media (SM) platforms are networks for disseminating opinions, where users exchange information. Bots, as constant sources of misinformation, can influence the ideological positioning of network members.

Platform policies against misinformation are important. Reliability assessment and digital literacy enhance resilience to misinformation.

Confirmation bias reinforces the polarizing effect of fake accounts. Comparing information with real data is essential.

To address digital polarization, institutional interventions and regulatory measures are needed to protect freedom of expression and prevent misinformation. Measures are proposed for network transparency, information verification using Artificial Intelligence (AI), and user education.

At the European Union level, legislative texts have been adopted to combat information manipulation, such as the Digital Services Act and the NIS2 Directive.

The architecture of social networks and user behavior determine the polarization or information of a society. Technological neutrality does not exist, and responsible interventions are required.