Social media might not be to blame for Canadians91裸聊视频� ideological polarization, a new report on digital democracy in Canada finds.

The latest findings are from an ongoing effort led by the Public Policy Forum and McGill University91裸聊视频檚 Max Bell School of Public Policy called the Digital Democracy Project.

91裸聊视频淎 lot of people don91裸聊视频檛 use social media very actively,91裸聊视频� said reseracher Eric Merkley. 91裸聊视频淧eople on Twitter are not representative of the broader population.91裸聊视频�

Instead, the study argues polarization in Canada arises partly from intense party loyalty and how far apart Canada91裸聊视频檚 political parties are, meaning party positions are an important factor.

Also, researchers found that people did not appear to make meaningful distinctions in their views between politicians from opposing parties and their supporters.

91裸聊视频淭his is troubling,91裸聊视频� the study says, because it suggests 91裸聊视频減olarization does not just influence people91裸聊视频檚 opinions about the parties, but also how they view ordinary Canadians.91裸聊视频� Each other, in other words.

Researchers found evidence that Canadians are 91裸聊视频渁ffectively polarized91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频� they feel negatively towards other people simply for being part of the opposing group.

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That was based on three measures, including the levels of warmth participants in the study feel for their ideological comrades and opponents; how much they associate their allies and opponents with positive and negative traits; and how comfortable they feel with having someone from an opposing ideology as a neighbour, friend or relative.

91裸聊视频淧artisans have substantially colder and more negative feelings about ideologically opposed parties, compared to those that are ideologically proximate,91裸聊视频� and also see opposed parties as 91裸聊视频渕ore socially distant,91裸聊视频� the study says.

The study goes on to note that though Canadians do seem to be polarized, it91裸聊视频檚 probably not our use of social media that is causing the divide.

Based on an analysis of the activity of about 50,000 Twitter accounts, the Digital Democracy Project researchers found evidence supporting the theory that users tend to create 91裸聊视频渇ilter bubbles91裸聊视频� for themselves. Very few partisans, it found, follow information sources from other parties.

But the study suggests the echo chambers do not extend far beyond Twitter.

By comparing the Twitter data to information gleaned from the survey, researchers also found just 16 per cent of Canadians are exposed to strongly partisan news sources. A tiny fraction 91裸聊视频� fewer than one per cent 91裸聊视频� get more than half their news from 91裸聊视频減artisan-congenial91裸聊视频� outlets.

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Most Canadians still engage broadly with mainstream news sources, the study suggests.

If media consumption is not to blame for polarization, the answer the study offers instead is that 91裸聊视频渢he biggest driver of polarization seems to be ideology and partisanship themselves.91裸聊视频�

Strong partisans have much more intense feelings towards opposing parties than weak partisans, the study finds.

Christian Paas-Lang, The Canadian Press

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