Political polarization is at a new high. A recent study by Pew Research Center found that Republicans and Democrats have reached record levels of division on major political issues. A similar study shows that these fractures are not only apparent across the partisan divide, but also within the political parties themselves. And a 2016 survey shows that about half of Republicans and Democrats are afraid of the other side.

While the reasons for increased polarization are multifaceted, AllSides focuses on two primary causes:

Filter bubbles, or echo chambers that form when we’re only exposed to ideas that we agree with, inflame the partisan divide as individuals are rarely forced to interact with other perspectives. Several factors influence the creation of a personal filter bubble, including geography, social circle, and how an individual consumes the news. Social media plays a big role as well, as advanced algorithms analyze political preferences and tailor content to hide any viewpoint that might be deemed offensive.

Media bias has also played a large role in today's political climate. Many organizations operate on a business model that relies on making us angry at the "other side" in order to form a loyal partisan customer base.