Why You Only See What You Want to See on Facebook
Psych 🧠- 422/500
hi,
Ever wonder if your Facebook feed is a bubble of like-minded opinions?
This paper investigates whether echo chambers truly exist on Facebook and, if so, how they reinforce polarization.
Buckle up for a deep dive into likes, comments, and conspiracy theories.
What is it?
The study explores the existence of echo chambers on Facebook by analyzing how Italian and US users interact with scientific and conspiracy-related content.
The researchers examine the role of confirmation bias in content selection and group polarization, exploring how users assimilate or reject information that aligns with or challenges their existing beliefs.
Key Findings:
Facebook users tend to cluster into polarized communities, primarily consuming and sharing content that confirms their pre-existing beliefs.
Confirmation bias plays a significant role in this process, with users readily accepting false claims that support their narratives while ignoring debunking information.
Echo chambers can strengthen extreme views. The negativity of comments also increased with user engagement, both for science and conspiracy content.
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What do I need to know:
Echo chambers are real on social media, and they reinforce existing beliefs.
Confirmation bias is a powerful force in shaping online behavior.
Exposure to diverse perspectives is limited within echo chambers.
Source:
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2795110