Sparks fly reliably on social media. Regardless of whether it is the war in the Middle East, social benefits for asylum seekers, Corona measures or the gender asterisk: shitstorms, hate messages and strident verbal attacks have become an integral part of today's political discussions. Populist and far-right parties are on the rise and the opposing attitudes of radical climate activists and exasperated drivers are clashing in the streets. To explain these phenomena, there is a diagnosis that is often highlighted in newspaper comments: society is divided as rarely before, and an irreconcilable polarization is permeating society.
