“The “unfriend” button gaining popularity; why a psychologist says it could be dangerous.”

Kevin Antshel, professor of psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences, was quoted in the CNY Central story “The “unfriend” button gaining popularity; why a psychologist says it could be dangerous.” Antshel says that while such “all or nothing” choices such as unfriending someone have always existed, the usage of such features is now more common with the pandemic and a divisive political landscape. “You’re never giving yourself a chance to get any conflicting information to challenge your belief system. Is there a downfall to that? Yes I think that things become increasingly polarized if you only are surrounded by people who happen to share your same beliefs,” says Antsel.