Algorithms in social media have become a big part of our
online lives, affecting what we see and who we connect with. But an important
question comes up: Do these programs unintentionally help create echo bubbles
and make people more divided?
Echo chambers are settings in which people mostly hear
information, ideas, and points of view that support what they already believe
and like. Algorithms in social media are based on how much users interact with
each other and how much money they make from ads.
They are made to look at user data and offer personalized
content. This personalized method can improve the user experience by giving
them material that is relevant to them, but it can also have effects that were
not meant.
As social media algorithms learn from how people use them,
they prefer showing related material to what people have already liked. This
makes a "filter bubble" where people only see a small number of
points of view, which reinforces their own views and ideas. In the end, people
may find themselves in echo bubbles, surrounded by people who think, value, and
believe the same things as them.
There are big problems caused by sound boxes. When people
only hear one side of a problem, they may develop a skewed view of the bigger
picture and fail to think about other points of view. This can make people even
more set in their own views and less willing to have useful conversations or
look for common ground.
The fact that social media sites are run by algorithms also
helps spread material that divides people. Posts with a lot of drama or
controversy tend to get more likes and comments, which makes algorithms
highlight and spread that kind of content. This can make it easier for people
with strong views and words to get heard, which can make society even more
divided and hostile.
Also, the computers that run social media can accidentally
make confirmation bias worse. Confirmation bias is the tendency to look for and
understand information that backs up what you already believe, while ignoring
evidence that goes against what you already think.
By showing users material that matches their tastes,
algorithms unknowingly strengthen confirmation bias. This keeps people from
hearing different points of view and makes it harder for them to think
critically.
Echo chambers and division on social media sites need to be
dealt with in more than one way. Platforms can do a lot to promote variety in
content by using algorithms that give more weight to a wider range of points of
view. Putting in place ways for people to see material that is outside of their
comfort zones can help break the filter bubble and lead to more complex
conversations.
It's also important to be honest. Social media sites should
explain how their algorithms work and how they affect the way material is
shared. Users should be able to adjust their algorithmic experience by choosing
to see a wider range of material. This would help them get out of echo bubbles
and interact with more ideas.