Social Media and Group Polarisation

Computer-mediated communication and social media have become a
pervasive phenomenon in today’s society. People use social media as
a platform for social expression and a tool for social change.

Most recently, it has been argued that the accessibility and the
mobility of social networks such as Facebook and Twitter mediated the
crowd into participation in the 2011 English riots, the Occupy
protests, and the “Arab Spring”.

However, research into the social concepts of group decision making
and group polarisation in the context of modern communication
strategies is lacking. This talk will provide an overview of a recent
study addressing this topic and discuss its findings and
implications.

Paulina Wegrzynek is a research assistant in psychology and a
postgraduate neuropsychology student at Bath Spa University. Her
research interests and current work focus on social media and group
decision making, employee well-being, and a link between depression
and inflammation.
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