Instagram Use and Political Polarization in India

Instagram, with over 516 million (Forbes, 2024) users in India as of 2023, is significant in shaping the political opinions of young people. The platform's focus on visual content and social engagement has transformed it from a simple photo-sharing app into a powerful space for political expression and discussion. While this opens new avenues for political participation, it also raises concerns about misinformation, polarization, and its impact on mental health. By focusing on lived experiences, this research seeks to uncover the criteria young people use to evaluate political content, the role Instagram plays in either bridging or widening political divides and the impact these interactions have on their mental health and personal relationships.