The past decade has seen political polarisation – accelerated by social media’s filter bubbles and echo chambers – deepen and mutate. An ominous era of a polycrisis has shattered any remaining societal consensus. Meanwhile, powerful anti-establishment voices have stepped into the void.

People are increasingly accused of staying in their political echo chambers online and IRL. Bubbel Chat is trying to shift this narrative by providing an online space where Dutch people can talk across cultural divides and foster conversations that lead to greater empathy.

A survey has found that South Korean society is becoming more polarised as people increasingly only communicate with those who hold similar views. With concerns rising over possible consequences, healthy discourse needs to be fostered to help bridge these gaps.

After opening up to foreign workers to address an ageing population, a record number of foreign employees have entered Japan. However, there's a significant lack of regular interactions between Japanese citizens and foreigners, causing social friction and further polarising society.