When people are divided along different lines such as race, ethnicity, religion, or income, it can create a sense of distrust and animosity between different groups. This can weaken the social fabric of society, reducing social cohesion and making it harder for people to work together to solve common problems.

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Social Fragmentation is the breakdown of social bonds and common values among groups in a society. It can also refer to the lack of integration and communication among diverse groups, such as ethnic, religious, or cultural minorities. Social fragmentation can have negative effects on individual and collective well-being, such as conflict, violence, discrimination, and isolation.

Social Fragmentation

Social cohesion is the sense of connectedness and belonging that people feel with others who share their values, beliefs, and goals. It can also refer to the degree of harmony and cooperation among groups in a society. Social cohesion can have positive effects on individual and collective well-being, such as trust, happiness, health, and social capital.

Social Cohesion

- Reduced social cohesion
- Increased social isolation
- Polarization
- Segregation
- Political instability

Negative Consequences of Social Fragmentation on Society

Social Fragmentation Reduce Social Cohesion

Inclusivity is when the entire online community feels comfortable and accepted by the rest of the members to contribute and engage with the rest of the group. This is another important piece to increasing social cohesion. When more people are interacting with one another, there is greater likelihood everyone is coordinating and collaborating without risk of social loafing.

Inclusivity

When measuring social cohesion, one way to do so is by measuring the social engagement. This means we measure the extent to which students/individuals are interacting with each other in a collaborative way,  i.e. interactivity. The more interactive the community is, the higher the social cohesion is.

Engagement impact on Social cohesion within Group Cohesion

Research has explored the effects of different degrees of social cohesion on knowledge sharing. Such research has found a curvilinear relationship between degree of social cohesion and knowledge sharing

Effects of Different Amounts Of Social Cohesion on Knowledge Sharing

Creating a connection within the members of the community creates a sense of belonging and a motivation to continue engaging with others and the goals within the group. 
Social cohesion can be increased by improving:
- social loafing 
- social presence
- social capital
- personalized profiles
- gamification
- sharing of news

Factors that Interact with Social Cohesion in Communities

Research has focused on the ways in which social connectedness, i.e., how connected students are, differs in in different learning environments.

Social Connectedness in Learning Environments

Fragmentation can lead to social isolation, especially for marginalized groups. This can lead to feelings of loneliness, depression, and anxiety, and can contribute to a range of physical and mental health problems.

Social Fragmentation Increase Social Isolation

Social fragmentation can lead to increased polarization, where people become more entrenched in their own beliefs and less willing to engage in constructive dialogue with people who hold different views. This can make it harder to find common ground and work towards shared goals.

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