Paper Number
ECIS2026-1202
Paper Type
SP
Abstract
Divisions within society, fuelled by the circulation of information on social media, represent a persistent and pressing challenge. This paper describes how a more nuanced understanding of societal polarisation can be achieved by emphasising the role of information in the emergence and intensification of polarisation. We position computationally intensive theory construction as a valuable means of interrogating large-scale datasets to identify patterns that illuminate the contours of this problem, enabling the development of a theory that explains its underlying mechanisms and dynamics. Our research will examine the phenomenon of xenophobia and its specific manifestations in South Africa, using comments posted on Facebook as the empirical base for constructing a substantive theory of the role of information in driving polarisation. In doing so, the study seeks not only to enrich scholarly discourse on polarisation but also to generate insights of practical relevance for policymakers aiming to mitigate its dynamics and consequences.
Recommended Citation
Geeling, Sharon and Ogundipe, Tejumade V., "Contested Beliefs: Foregrounding The Role Of Information In Societal Polarisation" (2026). ECIS 2026 Proceedings. 3.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/ecis2026/gen_track/gen_track/3
Contested Beliefs: Foregrounding The Role Of Information In Societal Polarisation
Divisions within society, fuelled by the circulation of information on social media, represent a persistent and pressing challenge. This paper describes how a more nuanced understanding of societal polarisation can be achieved by emphasising the role of information in the emergence and intensification of polarisation. We position computationally intensive theory construction as a valuable means of interrogating large-scale datasets to identify patterns that illuminate the contours of this problem, enabling the development of a theory that explains its underlying mechanisms and dynamics. Our research will examine the phenomenon of xenophobia and its specific manifestations in South Africa, using comments posted on Facebook as the empirical base for constructing a substantive theory of the role of information in driving polarisation. In doing so, the study seeks not only to enrich scholarly discourse on polarisation but also to generate insights of practical relevance for policymakers aiming to mitigate its dynamics and consequences.
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