Have you ever wondered how you ended up on a specific “side” of TikTok (such as FoodieTok, BookTok, FrogTok, etc.) or why your Instagram Explore page is constantly flooded with cooking videos? How does your TikTok ‘For You’ page keep your eyes glued to the screen for hours at a time? Social media algorithms are designed to observe user behavior and create a more personalized experience. They track the content we spend more time watching and interacting with and continue to put similar content on our feeds.
Why do these apps care so much about catering to us? The companies want our attention. The more we consume their media, the more money they make. We watch their ads, buy their products, give them our personal information, etc. They provide us with the stimulation we crave, and in turn, we give them our full attention. We trust them to provide us with content that aligns with our interests and beliefs and further our knowledge in the scope of our choosing. While these algorithms may seem beneficial for our viewing pleasure, it is common to find ourselves stuck in online echo chambers. Echo chambers are spaces where we interact only with information that reflects our own beliefs and values.
These echo chambers can lead us down a slippery slope; we are more likely to misinterpret the world outside our little bubble. We assume that everyone thinks the way we do and that our beliefs are in the majority. Many of us search for information that confirms our preexisting beliefs, a phenomenon known as confirmation bias. Because we like to be correct, we may be quick to dismiss anybody who disagrees with us. This general lack of exposure to diverse perspectives has resulted in heightened polarization and extremist thinking in a variety of areas. A big issue within these echo chambers is how easily false information can be spread. We are less likely to check if the information is factual when it supports our beliefs.
How can we break free of these echo chambers?
- Find information from multiple (credible) sources that offer a variety of viewpoints on a topic.
- Be critical of the information you encounter online. Just because someone said it doesn’t make it true!
- Engage in discussion with people holding differing opinions and practice active listening. You can learn a lot simply by trying to understand someone’s views rather than attempting to persuade them.
- Be mindful of the content you regularly interact with. If it seems one-sided, try finding information from the opposing viewpoint.
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