Social Media Platforms in Managing Polarization, Echo Chambers, and Misinformation Risk in Interreligious Dialogue among Young Generation

Abstract Social media platforms play a crucial role in interreligious dialogue by enabling diverse interactions and information sharing. However, they also pose risks, including polarization, echo chambers, and misinformation. Polarization deepens divisions as online communities become entrenched in their viewpoints, hindering mutual understanding. Echo chambers reinforce biases by limiting exposure to diverse perspectives, while misinformation spreads falsehoods about religious beliefs, fueling misunderstandings and conflict. This study examines these challenges through literature reviews and case studies on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. It explores how polarization, echo chambers, and misinformation have impacted interreligious discourse and identifies strategies to mitigate these risks. Solutions include algorithmic adjustments, fact-checking, and promoting critical thinking to foster respectful dialogue. This study highlights how digital platforms can be responsibly leveraged to promote inclusive and meaningful interreligious engagement, fostering greater understanding among diverse religious communities by addressing these complexities.