Social Media Fueled Divisions: How a Quiz Game Reverses 15 Years of Political Polarization

Social trust is eroding globally. There is an urgent need to rebuild trust and connections in communities. While dialogue is necessary, it’s often insufficient. Enter Tango, a virtual quiz game developed at Harvard University in partnership with GDI. Tango pairs Democrats and Republicans as teammates and turns bipartisanship into a competitive advantage, finding a scalable solution to restore trust and promote collaboration across lines of division. 

“It’s really the opposite of the nasty, divisive posting you find on social media,” says Tango co-creator Joshua D. Greene, co-author of a new study measuring the game’s impact, in Harvard Gazette.

The results, published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, showed decreased partisan hostility, increased warmth, and even financial generosity between U.S. players from opposing parties. The authors found that the immediate effect was equivalent to reversing about 15 years of rising political polarization in American life. The game’s positive effects persisted for four months. 

Recently featured in the Boston Globe and Ologies with Alie Ward, Tango is an innovative tool designed to foster collaboration, mutual respect, and connectedness among individuals with differing beliefs and values. 

For higher education, Tango can be seamlessly integrated into student orientation, classrooms, student organizations, and other campus initiatives. It can foster collaboration and mutual understanding among students, helping them learn to respect differing viewpoints and work together despite disagreements. For companies, Tango can build team cohesion and create a united, more respectful work environment.

Contact Tango today to learn more about the research, see how Tango can integrate into your organization, and discuss opportunities for partnership.