A disagreement in opinions can be a healthy debate. A debate becomes unhealthy when we stop thinking the other idea is wrong, but instead we think something is wrong with the person who holds it. This is when we delegitimise the other person because of their beliefs. This is the point when what we think of their beliefs becomes what we think of them.
In recent years, many conversations have migrated to the digital sphere, and with it the language used has changed as well. Words alone no longer cause polarisation. Instead the medium itself causes it.
In the digital sphere, what is the revenue model of Google, or Facebook, or Twitter? They are all free services, which means we are the product. Or more precisely, our attention span is the product. And these companies bargain with our attention.
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