>There is an emerging consensus that the correlation is in the ballpark of r = .10 to r = .15. A ballpark figure for the correlation just for girls is roughly r = .15 to r =
.22

Time to go back to the drawing board. If your correlation is so small then social media isn't the problem. Social media is a nice scapegoat but you literally disprove yourself if your correlation is so low.

>The “eyewitness testimony” confirms the academic findings: social media is a culprit.

Social sciences are notoriously bad for this. When you fail at your study with really bad correlations that should get you laughed at in any other legitimate science. You then go to the very scientific 'eyewitness testimony' this isn't laughable anymore, this is political. You are writing a study with a false conclusion with political motivation behind it. This is offensive, quite unlike Haidt.

>. Researchers and spokespeople for the major platforms who tell you that the evidence is “inconclusive” or that the effect sizes are “too small” should be asked directly: “OK, then what do YOU think caused this?”

Oh this is a simple one. The correlation between measurements of these kids and political polarization matches up quite a bit more than social media. This all derives from identity politics. Obama as 'first black president' was inevitably going to have a identity politics factor. There will always be consequences with this. The measurements detected in children at the same as adults.

Page 3 indicates a sharp rise since 2009. Instagram doesn't even launch until 2010 and obviously it didn't just go straight to being ultra popular. It wasn't until years later did really the big social media boom happen. Hence why social media correlation is so poor. Not to mention early social media wasn't quite the toxic pit that it is today.

Identity politics is toxic. No doubt all these children were sitting in classes hearing all about Obama and his identity politics. Doesnt even matter which way it rolls, perhaps they are in texas learning about how terrible obama is... doesn't matter. Though I would bet most teachers were pro-obama.

But once you pop that cork... you also have all the other politics coming through. Climate change no doubt being taught in schools. LGBT, Antiracism... all those poor white kids are oppressing their black friends...

But all of these are politically charged subjects that are not getting the nuance that the pundits give them. Their kindergarten teacher in everywhere except florida get to discuss gender and race issues these far too complicated subjects with kids. What do you expect to happen?

That's the danger of identity politics. It's insidious. It spreads like wild fire and leaves destruction in its path. It begets more identity politics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtWAmhOOEDI

Obama is a very smart dude who saw the consequences and this 'white male' problem but that's how the identity politics end. Working together again. You need to extend that hand to those 'white supremacists'. But what hand has been offered to date?

https://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2020-53844037

Years later... Obama isn't offering his hand. He's 'blasting' trump.

Without someone bringing both parties back to the table and getting to talk to each other again. This inevitably will result in far more violence. Yes the USA has had 2+ years of civil unrest and violence already. It's a matter of time it goes well beyond.