Community Segregation on Social Media: Notion of Othering in Virtual World

The aim of this research is the concept of “othering online” which analyses the dichotomy of real and virtual spaces by exploring the motivation of individuals’ behavior and the impact of this concept on the perception of others. “Othering” is a widely inclusive conceptual framework that includes stereotypes, prejudices, and notions like atavism and tribalism, but it also refers to deeper processes, where only some of those patterns are covered by these ideas. Social environments and contexts, which include family, friends, and community leaders, indicate which differences are important and which associations, stereotypes, and meanings are reflected in those categories. This way, social media communities encourage certain differences and guide users to what differences are relevant when choosing affiliation. These associations are not just descriptive. They also provide social meanings that contribute to the understanding of the purpose of existence in social virtual worlds. This study demonstrates that ideological segregation on social media is linked to cultural stereotypes, indicating along the way that technological advancements, which facilitate easier social grouping, increase the degree of ideological segregation.