A world where anger makes money? The crisis of democracy in 2025 and the dissection of toxic politics

The phenomenon of increasing harsh language in politics

Recent research has analyzed approximately 18 million tweets from members of parliament in 17 Western countries, revealing that politicians are increasingly using harsh language. This trend is particularly pronounced among members of radical right parties and opposition politicians, who tend to employ more aggressive language regarding sensitive issues such as immigration, LGBTQ rights, and gender conflicts. Interestingly, it has been observed that during crisis situations, such as election periods or the early stages of COVID-19, the use of harsh language tends to decrease. This suggests that using harsh language is not purely emotional behavior but rather a strategic one. It indicates a shift in how politicians adjust and provoke people's emotions through their words. The emotional intensity of political statements is now regarded as a form of political "achievement." Statements that elicit anger and hatred provide supporters with a sense of righteousness and solidarity, while instilling a negative image in opponents. As a result, politics is increasingly resembling a moral battle.

How Algorithms Spread Anger

Platforms like Twitter accelerate these changes. Algorithms not only spread popular content but also show posts that evoke users' emotions, particularly those that contain feelings of anger, hate, and contempt, to more people. Research indicates that when politicians use harsh language, they receive more likes, retweets, and comments, and these reactions, in turn, reward the politicians, encouraging them to continue using harsh rhetoric. Since Elon Musk acquired Twitter, there has been a noticeable tendency for conservative content to spread more, along with increased exposure of posts containing misinformation or aggressive language. This illustrates that political anger is not merely an emotional issue but a 'product' that spreads and is reinforced within a technological structure. Political emotions, especially anger, now operate as a 'data asset' that can succeed through algorithms.

Weakening of Democracy

The increase in harsh language in politics goes beyond a simple issue of expression it seriously undermines the fundamental principles of democracy. Misinformation and harsh words influence each other, eroding trust among people and weakening the core values of democracy, such as political compromise and consensus. In particular, harsh remarks against female politicians and minorities destroy equal opportunities for political participation and spread distrust and hatred towards the political system itself. People are no longer inclined to listen to diverse opinions and engage in discussions instead, they tend to consume only information that aligns with their own views. This exacerbates political polarization and threatens the very foundation of democratic communication. Harsh language has become not just an exceptional phenomenon but a strategy for success in politics.

Conclusion

The cycle of politicians inciting anger, platforms amplifying it, and citizens consuming the results shows a crisis of democracy that can no longer be overlooked. The moment political anger turned into content that can drive clicks and generate profits, democracy began to stray from its original purpose. The increase in harsh political rhetoric on platforms like Twitter is not just a technical issue or the problem of a specific group. It raises an important question about how democracy should be redesigned in a new environment. We must now seriously consider how to restore and reconstruct democracy in a platform-centric political environment. Elevating the accountability of politicians, enhancing regulations on speech, ensuring the transparency and fairness of algorithms, and improving citizens' information literacy are merely short-term solutions. More fundamentally, it is time to create a political culture that fosters a new design that does not exploit anger in politics, namely the 'freedom to not be angry' and the 'value of persuasion'.