# Ideology and polarization set the agenda on social media

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2412.05176 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2412.05176/

## Key facts

- Cited by 3 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 6 Dec 2024.

## Built on by (most cited first, 3 of 3)

- [BITS Pilani at SemEval-2026 Task 9: Structured Supervised Fine-Tuning with DPO Refinement for Polarization Detection](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2604.11121/) (2026)
- [Involvement drives complexity of language in online debates](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2506.22098/) (2025)
- [Measuring Narrative Polarization in Online Discourse](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2601.07398/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

The abundance of information on social media has reshaped public discussions, shifting attention to the mechanisms that drive online discourse. This study analyzes large-scale Twitter (now X) data from three global debates--Climate Change, COVID-19, and the Russo-Ukrainian War--to investigate the structural dynamics of engagement. Our findings reveal that discussions are not primarily shaped by specific categories of actors, such as media or activists, but by shared ideological alignment. Users consistently form polarized communities, where their ideological stance in one debate predicts their positions in others. This polarization transcends individual topics, reflecting a broader pattern of ideological divides. Furthermore, the influence of individual actors within these communities appears secondary to the reinforcing effects of selective exposure and shared narratives. Overall, our results underscore that ideological alignment, rather than actor prominence, plays a central role in structuring online discourse and shaping the spread of information in polarized environments.