Lead supervisor:
Prof Ian Walker 
Other supervisor(s):
- Dr Becki Hafner
Start date: December 2025 (Full time)
Award: General
Subject Pathway:
Psychology
Thematic Cluster:
Language, Learning and Behaviour Cluster
Is avoidance of facts on social media driving political polarisation and impeding climate action?
People are increasingly turning to influencers on Tiktok and Youtube for political news and information. The rise of algorithmically curated contents has fuelled the speculation that people might end up in ideological "echo chambers" where only like-minded views are heard. But recent evidence shows that this threat has not fully materialised. And yet, soaring support for populist parties and a growing sense of polarisation are palpable across many parts of the world. If not echo chambers, what could be driving this trend?
Avoidance of facts has so far received scant attention. Social media does not only push political information to users that it thinks they will like, but it also makes it easier to avoid political and factual information by flooding the platforms with entertaining contents. Some groups, such as supporters of populist movements, may be particularly prone to avoiding factual information online. This could be one of the key reasons why they support populist leaders and denigrate efforts to mitigate climate change such as reducing our dependence on private cars. Conversely, promoting engagement with facts could lie at the heart of pursuading citizens to support climate action.
Is facts avoidance especially prevalent among particular groups? Does it affect their attitudes towards policies and their political behaviour? What are the psychological mechanisms behind fact avoidance? And is promoting engagement with facts the best way to change minds and behaviour?