The Polarization Paradox: Social Media, Young Voters, and the Challenges to the Open Society

The ideal of the open society, based on rational deliberation and pluralism, faces significant challenges in the digital age. This study explores how affective polarization and populist sentiments among young Portuguese voters reconfigure the public space, conditioning democratic debate. Using a sample of 130 first-time voters in the April 2024 legislative elections, we analyze the relationship between populism, adherence to radical right-wing ideology and levels of affective polarization, considering the role of social networks as vectors of these dynamics. The results suggest that young people with populist sentiments show greater affective polarization and that the preference for certain digital platforms influences this tendency. The study contributes to the debate on the impact of social networks in an open society, highlighting their role in amplifying discursive fragmentation and eroding the foundations of democratic debate.