Throughout the last three decades, the U.S. political scene has become increasingly polarized, meaning both major political parties are growing further and further apart in ideology. According to the Pew Research Center, “In each party, the share with a highly negative view of the opposing party has more than doubled since 1994. Most of these intense partisans believe the opposing party’s policies ‘are so misguided that they threaten the nation’s well-being’” (pewresearch.org). This level of distrust has made political discussions more emotionally charged, turning policy debates into personal battles. 

   Both sides believe the other is going to destroy the country, and as a result, rather than fostering meaningful discussions, politics have become a divisive force, affecting not just national discourse but also personal relationships. It doesn’t help that talk of politics seems to have seeped its way into every conversation due to President Donald Trump’s second term. The 24-hour news cycle and social media have made politics inescapable, often sensationalizing conflicts rather than promoting meaningful discussions. This constant exposure pressures people, young people especially, to take firm stances on issues, even when they may not have had the chance to explore all perspectives.

   According to the University of Southern California, politics today are the most polarized they’ve been since the Civil War (today.usc.edu). This is a sobering comparison, considering that the Civil War was the most divided our country has been in its history. While modern-day polarization has not led to a war, it has led to a cultural and ideological battle. As President Joe Biden warned in his inaugural address, “[Americans should] see each other as neighbors, not as adversaries.” This polarization has led to a massive divide in the beliefs of individuals, and thus has created friction between students. High schoolers today are growing up in an era where their political beliefs are not just opinions but aspects of their identity, making it even harder to have open-minded discussions. 

   Social media is now more than ever a form of political expression and exposure, and due to algorithms designed to cater to one’s own liking, it’s very easy to be pushed into an echo chamber in which you only see points you agree with and points disparaging the opposing party. This creates an environment where misinformation thrives and confirmation bias strengthens. Rather than being exposed to diverse viewpoints, students often see only the most extreme versions of the “other side,” reinforcing negative stereotypes and making it easier to dismiss differing opinions altogether. 

   While this form of media may help younger people find their footing in the political landscape, it causes wedges to be driven between preexisting relationships. Although politics are extremely important and relevant, only having friends from one’s own political party is part of the reason why polarization has gotten so bad. In high school, where social groups are already divided by common interests, hobbies, and academic levels, adding politics as another barrier only increases social fragmentation. It’s far more beneficial to have healthy debates with people from one’s opposing party than to dismiss them or attempt to convert them to one’s own side. Despite this, many young people find themselves in situations where they feel pressured to conform to the dominant political beliefs of their friend group or community, fearing that disagreement could lead to exclusion.

   Political polarization is not only harmful socially, but is also harmful to democracy. As a party’s constituents become increasingly partisan, they begin to elect increasingly partisan leaders, who implement extreme policies, which are undone by the next leader of the opposing party. This cycle results in instability, where long-term policy planning becomes nearly impossible. Instead of focusing on gradual improvements, each administration prioritizes undoing the work of the previous one, leading to policy gridlock. Issues that require bipartisan cooperation — such as climate change, healthcare reform, and education — suffer because compromise is seen as weakness rather than progress.

   This polarization is approaching a tipping point at which time it will be impossible to reverse. As parties move further from centrist ideals, there will be little room for leaders to compromise, and neither party will agree with the other on virtually anything. According to a Berkeley research paper, “Research indicates that once people are polarized, exposure even to civil expressions of the other side’s viewpoint creates more polarization” (greatergood.berkeley.edu). This means that even well-intentioned debates can backfire, as people may become more entrenched in their beliefs rather than open to change. If polarization continues to intensify, we may reach a point where individuals refuse to associate with those who hold different political views, leading to a society where political identity dictates social and professional relationships.

   Polarization is an issue that cannot be reversed, but it can be slowed. When parties can learn to respectfully disagree, the process of hostility between parties can be sedated, and civility can be preserved. It’s easy to let politics become a staple in one’s life, but at the end of the day, people are choosing the party they believe will best benefit the United States. Rather than seeing political debates as battles to be won, high schoolers — and society as a whole — should focus on understanding why people hold the beliefs they do. True progress comes from dialogue, not