by By Molly Miller
Ever feel like everyone on your social media agrees with you? Like you’re living in a bubble where everyone sees the world the same way? Yeah, that’s not a coincidence. It’s actually how platforms are designed, and it’s causing some serious problems when it comes to politics. And, especially right now.
Here’s the deal: social media companies use algorithms to decide what you see on your feed. Basically, they’re track what you like, who you follow, what you click on, and interact with. Then, they show you more and more of that stuff, because that’s what keeps you scrolling and engaged.
Sounds harmless, right? Wrong. The problem is, these algorithms create these “echo chambers” where we only see information that confirms what we already believe. It’s like only ever watching one news channel, or only talking to people who agree with you 100%. You start to think everyone feels the same way, and anyone who disagrees is wrong.
This makes it super hard to have real conversations about politics. We get so stuck in our own bubbles that we can’t even understand where the other side is coming from.
And it gets worse. Social media also loves to show us the most extreme, outrageous stuff because that’s what gets our attention. So, we end up seeing a lot of angry rants and crazy conspiracy theories, which just makes everyone even more fired up and divided.
Okay, so what can we do about it?
The good news is, we’re not totally helpless. Here are a few things we can all do to fight back against the echo chamber effect:
Step outside your bubble: Make an effort to follow people with different viewpoints. I know it can be uncomfortable, but it’s so important to understand different perspectives.
Don’t let algorithms control you: Remember that these things are designed to keep you hooked, not to show you the whole picture. Try following some new accounts, searching for different topics, and just generally mixing things up.
Be a fact-checker: Don’t believe everything you read online! Do your own research, check sources, and be skeptical of anything that seems too good (or too bad) to be true.
Be kind, even when you disagree: It’s okay to have different opinions, but let’s try to remember that we’re all human beings. Let’s have respectful conversations, even when we disagree.
Social media can be an awesome tool for connecting with people and learning new things. But we need to be smart about how we use it. Let’s break free from the echo chambers and start building bridges instead of walls to move towards a future of communication and understanding.
Molly, this article is spot on! Social media echo chambers are something we’re all feeling but maybe haven’t put into words. It’s so true that the algorithms feed us only what we already like or agree with, making it hard to see the bigger picture. And it’s crazy how often we come across extreme posts—no wonder it feels like everyone’s on edge. I love your tips on breaking out of the bubble, especially following people with different viewpoints and fact-checking. We need more articles like this to remind us how to use social media wisely. Great job!
Molly,
This is an interesting topic considering the recent election. As you mention in your writing, social media algorithms are specifically designed to generate engagement from users by presenting them with posts that correlate with prior online activity. When this comes to politics, most people typically only follow and view posts from others who are politically aligned with their personal views. This has led to many people to be shocked in the outcomes of political races under the assumption the majority of people agree with their personal views. This continues to be a problem in the shaping of individual views, as people are only being exposed to one subset of information.
Hi Molly,
I really appreciate you touching on this because this is something I’ve been reeling with post-election. Something that we’re taught in the SOJC in battling misinformation is to engage with multiple perspectives. Admittedly, I’m not the best at this, and I thought that everything popping up on social media was the “full picture.” This was not the case at all. Your post reaffirms my need to really break out of my own echo chamber.