One of social media’s great strengths is its ability to connect us with like-minded others. But in doing so, it may channel us into what are known as social media “bubbles,” identity-driven online cliques that present us only with people and information we’re already likely to agree with and shield us from anything that challenges our deeply-held beliefs. Many experts argue that these bubbles, which can create the illusion that anyone who disagrees with us is evil or foolish, increase polarization and our distrust of one another. Yet they may also have some positive effects; one study conducted during COVID-19, for example, found that people who were strongly connected to a social media “bubble” had better well-being than those who weren’t.