Keywords
Israel Hamas War; Campus Protests; October 7; Social Identity Theory; Social Movement Theory
Abstract
This study examines the impact of social media on the polarization of opinions regarding the Israel-Hamas war, particularly among U.S. college students. Following the outbreak of the war in October 2023, social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok have facilitated the spread of highly partisan narratives, fueling ideological divides. The study highlights how social media contributes to the increase in antisemitic and Islamophobic sentiments, exacerbating societal tensions. Through 25 structured qualitative interviews with college students, the research explores how social media algorithms shape perceptions by reinforcing preexisting beliefs through echo chambers and filter bubbles. Taken as a whole, participants reported frequent exposure to ideologically aligned content, leading to selective engagement with information that supports their viewpoints while disregarding opposing perspectives. This phenomenon intensifies political polarization and influences campus activism, as social media serves both as an organizing tool and a medium for ideological reinforcement. The study mostly draws from theories of the networked public sphere, cyberbalkanization, and social movement theory (SMT) to analyze the fragmented discourse surrounding the war. The findings suggest that while social media provides quick access to information, its algorithmic design fosters ideological divisions, limiting exposure to diverse perspectives and complicating efforts to foster critical thinking and informed decision-making.
Thesis Completion Year
2025
Thesis Completion Semester
Spring
Thesis Chair
Matusitz, Jonathan
College
College of Sciences
Department
Nicholson School of Communication and Media
Thesis Discipline
Communication Studies
Language
English
Access Status
Open Access
Length of Campus Access
None
Campus Location
Orlando (Main) Campus
STARS Citation
Lynne, Jonah, "Polarization On Campus: How Social Media Shapes College Students' Opinions on the Israel Hamas War" (2025). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 323.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hut2024/323
Rights Statement
