Advanced International Journal for Research

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Political Polarization in the Digital Age: Social Media and the Transformation of Democratic Politics in Karnataka

Author(s) Dr. Shivarudrappa H S
Country India
Abstract The rapid expansion of social media has transformed political communication, electoral campaigning and democratic participation in India. Karnataka, characterized by strong political competition, technological development and increasing digital connectivity, provides an important context for examining these changes. This paper analyses the relationship between social media and political polarization in Karnataka, focusing particularly on WhatsApp, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and YouTube. It examines how digital platforms have changed communication between political parties, candidates and citizens while simultaneously creating challenges associated with misinformation, selective exposure, echo chambers, partisan narratives and affective polarization. The study adopts a qualitative and analytical approach based on secondary sources, including scholarly literature, election-related studies and research concerning digital political communication. Particular attention is given to the 2019 Lok Sabha election and the 2023 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election. The paper argues that social media has become an integral part of political campaigning and mobilization, creating opportunities for political participation and accountability but also contributing to increasingly fragmented political communication. The study concludes that social media does not independently cause political polarization; rather, its effects emerge from the interaction between political identities, party strategies, platform architecture, misinformation and user behavior. Strengthening digital literacy, multilingual fact-checking, transparency in political advertising and responsible platform governance is therefore essential for protecting democratic deliberation in Karnataka.
Keywords Political polarization, social media, digital democracy, Karnataka, political communication, misinformation, elections, democratic governance.
Field Arts
Published In Volume 6, Issue 6, November-December 2025
Published On 2025-12-10
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E-ISSN 3048-7641
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