Abstract: By exploring the mechanism of generating social media group polarization, this study aims to provide a reference for guiding and avoiding social media group polarization. Based on the social burning theory, this study uses existing literature and selected cases to refine six explanations, including interest oppeals, news narrative framework, opinion leaders, initial media, issue types, and communication forms, and uses the clear-set qualitative comparative analysis to explore the generative path of social media group polarization. The study found that news narrative framework is a necessary condition for social media group polarization, and opinion leaders are the core condition for social media group polarization, which act as "accelerators" to jointly promote the generation of group polarization; As the "ignition temperature", the issule type has a moderating effect on the generation of social media group polarization; Hot events in the form of pictures and texts are more likely to cause group polarization on social media.

Key words: Social media, Population polarization, Qualitative comparative analysis, Social burning theory, Cyberspace governance