How society becomes polarized

As we’ve begun to discuss in class, the “echo chamber” that we exist in within our social media circles is not a result of the tech giants and their malicious filtering algorithms, it is a result of us; the individual user.

Researchers at Stanford conducted a study in 2013 that resulted in the development of a mathematical model to demonstrate how the American society is becoming more polarized. Based on one of the dominant theories, it is thought that with the increase in digital media in recent years through websites and social media, users now have the option to pick and choose what kind of media they consume as well as the social networks we identify with. Given this reality, it is thought that people tend to form their opinions in ways that minimize the overall amount of disagreement in their news feeds and social circles. As a result of that phenomenon, the individuals opinions gradually converge with those they surround themselves with (Stanford School of Engineering, 2013).

Even though it may be possible to place the blame on the recommender algorithms search engines and social media use, we must keep in mind that they are still businesses designed to provide the most pleasing user experience. Even if that means reinforcing the “echo chamber” effect.

 

Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130401090714.htm

2 thoughts on “How society becomes polarized

  1. People have been blaming social media and the algorithms they use; however all the blame can not be placed on these sites. As you said, such algorithms generate feed of of your friends and the things you view most. However, I don’t think this “filter bubble” or “echo chamber” is a problem. All information is accessible, as we talked about in class, if you have the right resources. If I wanted to look at opposing views or the general news, I could just look it up. I do not think it is fair to blame the company entirely because the information is coming from the people and topics we associated ourselves with. Social media and these platforms are just a place for people to assign blame; but in reality, all people have their own “filter bubble”. We choose to associate ourselves with information we agree with, not information we challenge. The real problem is that people are not consciously aware they are creating this “filter bubble” themselves.

    Tangermann, Victor. “Social Media Isn’t an Echo Chamber, You Are.” World Economic Forum, Futurism, 20 Apr. 2018, http://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/04/actually-social-media-isn-t-an-echo-chamber.

  2. While the way that now every social media is individualized is causing this “filter bubble” for many users, the problem may not even be limited to that. There has been research done which shows that the digital divide within the United States is growing between different socioeconomic sections of the country. This meaning that not everyone is able to access the same information due to a lack of internet servers and a lack of devices in which they can use to surf the web or interact on social media. This is causing a big divide between people’s access to information. If people are only able to access free sources of information such as certain newspapers, then they are subject to those biases without even realizing.

    https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/digital-divide-and-social-media-connectivity-doesnt-end-the-digital-divide-skills-do/

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