By Timothy G. Pollock, Violina P. Rindova
In this thought-provoking essay, the authors examine how the new information environment (characterized by social media, algorithmic amplification, and fragmented audiences) interacts with rising polarization to reshape the foundations of social evaluations. Moving beyond assumptions of consensus and shared audiences, the authors outline a research agenda that challenges scholars to rethink theory, measurement, and empirical design in light of fragmented information ecosystems. By foregrounding the consequences of echo chambers, declining shared norms, and intensifying identity-based judgments, this essay offers important implications for organizational theory and practice alike.
