HELLO? hello. I AGREE! i agree...

By

Social media is filled with echo chambers created by us, the users. Technically, we have help from the social media platforms, but our online behavior feeds into their algorithms to build the echo chambers. Without our likes, retweets/reposts, shares, comments, views, etc., the algorithms would have no insight into what content interests us and, thus, no idea what to feed us while we scroll. The very act of participating in social media facilitates echo chambers old and new. Some echo chambers focus on opinions about issues, while others center on interests in certain topics.

Echo chambers exist for politics, social issues, education topics, and even entertainment such as books. Being stuck in a virtual world where everyone agrees with you is not healthy for society. Only being surrounded by similar thinkers is not how to foster positive discourse that will help our world grow but steadily divides us. With polarizing issues, though, we are seeking out "safe" spaces online to either simply find others who share our tastes and opinions or to avoid combative talk and attacks from those who disagree with us. Dr. K, a psychiatrist on TikTok whose handle is @healthygamer.gg, briefly explains, "What are echo chambers?" and how they become safe spaces. BBC Bitesize also breaks down the uncomfortable feelings those who think differently encounter with an echo chamber. 

I see this problem on #Booktok weekly in comments and posts. Some users have no problem bashing a reader for loving or hating a book. Tiktokers complain regularly that they only see the same X number of books recommended on TikTok. @Erynsarchive proves this to be wrong, and @books.with.lee reminds people that statement is not true for everyone. Your "For You Page" (FYP), feed, etc. is fed by your own activity and the information it feeds to the algorithm, after all. We often fall into these echo chambers based on topics we show the algorithms we are invested in, but we may encounter users who disagree with our type of interest in the topic. 

How do we break these echo chambers? Diversify your social media content, of course. But how comfortable are we in doing that? How safe would breaking the echo chambers be for those who want to discuss things openly against those who just want to change the opinions of others?

Comments

  1. Natalie StansburySeptember 24, 2023 at 11:50 AM

    This is a catch 22 topic. Because most people turn to things they are comfortable with. As discussed previously, we go to certain restaurants because we are comfortable there, either because we know the people or we know the venue and don't want to get out of our comfort zone. The same goes for the internet. People are more apt to go to places where they know there are others like them or where they know they will be accepted. We don't go to the internet to bring discomfort to ourselves, we likely have enough of that in our lives in the "real world." However, "real life" is not full of everything we agree with and all the things we are interested in. "Real life" requires us to deal with the uncomfortable things. So what are we actually doing? Running away from uncomfortable or running toward comfort?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Samantha MatherneSeptember 24, 2023 at 2:05 PM

      I understand what you mean about not going online to seek discomfort. How do we learn how to have healthy conversations with those we don't see eye-to-eye with on everything, if we surround ourselves with people of the same mindsets or interests in real life and online, though? Quite a conundrum. The polarization of major topics in society causes me to think this problem is getting worse, and social media echo chambers are not helping our case.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Social Medial Platform for Libraries Only?

By
  The number of libraries, large and small, that have jumped into the social web is impressive and Choi’s literary review and marketing analysis indicates that libraries are more comfortable about the concept of integrating social media. A couple of small Maine libraries I am familiar with each handle things very differently, which makes me think about the staffing issues and user needs that our blogging group read about this week, but also information needs that are the core of our information science program. As if trying to strike a timing and outreach balance isn’t enough, libraries need to decide which platform(s) to use. Considering the wide age range of users they may be working with, it must be quite a challenge. Some people may have settled into their favorite platform, some simply don’t want to engage in social media through the library, and other members of the library community may be jolted by political issues such as those of X and TikTok. Pew Research  recently ...
Read more

Your book club is where?

By
When considering public libraries' involvement in social media, the biggest reasons for use tend to be marketing and communication with the community. Social media platforms are great avenues to connect with existing or potential library users, and I wonder about employing them more for virtual programming. I remember after the Covid-19 pandemic hit the US in March 2020, libraries like mine scrambled to still offer services to the community with virtual programming largely not being practiced. As a society, we often talk of how busy life is today and know nearly everyone has a device constantly at their fingertips, which begs the question... why are more libraries not using that knowledge to their advantage for virtual programming?  A popular library program that could be moved to or have additional groups in a virtual setting are book clubs. With an increasing number of social media platforms out there that promote book discussion or discussions in general, now seems easier than e...
Read more

We'll keep you posted!

By Anna V.
  After reading this week’s articles about social media and libraries, how to get (and keep!) the attention of one’s audience has been on my mind.  It seems to be an ongoing challenge.   I have very little extra time lately, so I am very selective about how I spend that time on social media.   I looked into this a little more and found several sources. Some addressed social media in libraries, others were libraries themselves that had been recognized for their social media.   These suggestions are from the New Jersey State Library.   I enjoy seeing   what other libraries are doing! Taylor and Francis provide some helpful information  here.   This library ’s TikTok and Instagram became extremely popular, and I want to follow them myself now!
Read more