It’s not just bad behavior – why social media design makes it hard to have constructive disagreements online

Good-faith disagreements are a normal part of society and building strong relationships. Yet it’s difficult to engage in good-faith disagreements on the internet, and people reach less common ground online compared with face-to-face disagreements.
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"The Internet is Broken": Why We Need AllSides

"When it comes to politics and cultural issues, the internet is broken.” John Gable has a passion for civic engagement that has led him from politics to technology. As co-founder of AllSides and AllSides for Schools, John is in the vanguard of those working to fix what’s broken with the...
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Four Steps for Depolarizing with Mass Messaging: The Power of Commonality, Uniqueness, Elevation, and Togetherness

Political sides in the U.S. have the potential to see each other in highly negative ways. They can see each other as an out-group that is distant, stereotyped, lesser, and to be avoided, as I argued in my last article . This article focuses on the corresponding solutions. Each of those...
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We’re on a Hill, They’re in a Valley: The Four Steps that Happen When Animosity Grows Toward the Other Political Party

What happens if animosity grows toward those in the other political party? What are negative ways we can feel about any group that is not our own? These are not just academic questions, but they are important to answer in order to figure out how to reduce political polarization. This...
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Putting a “Lid” On Our Demands of the American Public: Let’s Focus on “Lower-Intensity Depolarization” (LID) Strategies

My previous article investigated the methods used by most groups focused on reducing political polarization. I argued they can be effective, but they usually ask for too much time and effort from the American public. Most Americans do not have the time or interest to engage deeply with...
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Arriving at the Grand Divide | Jonathan Haidt, John Wood Jr. and April Lawson

American social fabric is tearing apart at catastrophic speed. How did we get here and where does hope come from for the future? Braver Angels leaders John Wood, Jr. and April Lawson are joined by author, social psychologist and Braver Angels board member Jonathan Haidt to discuss the...
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Political Polarization Is No Longer Just Red v Blue: It’s About Memetic Tribes

The United States is politically polarized — but perhaps not in the way you think. We tend to think of “polarization” as two competing red and blue tribes, each far away from the other in belief, values, and ideas, battling for political territory. Republican versus Democrat. Elephant...
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