How Social Media Is Destroying Families

"This grief feels similar to what they would experience if their family member died, but in some cases, it feels even worse. Family estrangement has reached epidemic proportions. A 2022 survey found 29 percent of Americans are currently cut off from a parent, child, sibling, or grandparent, and a 2025 survey found 38 percent have experienced estrangement from a close family member at some point. These aren't just statistics. They're the tragic consequences of families ripped apart."

"In her book, How to Stand Up to a Dictator, Ressa describes how Facebook's "friends of friends" algorithm, combined with divisive political posts, changed how Filipinos relate to one another. She explains: "If you were pro-Duterte and you were getting recommendations for posts from friends of friends, you moved farther right. If you were anti-Duterte, you moved farther left. And over time, the chasm between the two sides grew." This same pattern occurred in India, Brazil, and the U.S."

Family estrangement affects a large portion of people and causes deep grief comparable to bereavement. Surveys report 29 percent of Americans currently cut off from a parent, child, sibling, or grandparent (2022) and 38 percent who have experienced estrangement from a close family member at some point (2025). Causes include substance abuse, violence, and personality conflicts. Social media algorithms that optimize engagement amplify divisive political content and strong emotions. Facebook's "friends of friends" recommendations during the 2016 Philippine election pushed opposing political camps farther apart, a pattern also observed in India, Brazil, and the United States. Amplified anger and moral outrage increase polarization and contribute to family rifts.

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