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>Echo Chambers are nothing new in fact we used to live in much bigger echo chambers than we do today. Your choice of newspaper or tv-channels, i.e. one-way chan

>Echo Chambers are nothing new in fact we used to live in much bigger echo chambers than we do today. Your choice of newspaper or tv-channels, i.e. one-way channels are actually the real echo chambers. Echo chambers have nothing to do with whether the channel is one-way or not. It has to do with how often you are exposed to dissenting opinions. Echo chambers can exist within old media (cable news), but there's no question that the Facebook newsfeed is worse in this regard. It's designed to show you things shared by your friends, who probably think like you do. And it shows you more of the things you "like", and less of what you don't. >Manipulation, micro-targeting and behavior change Yet Hillary won the popular vote. So in other words, not a very effective tool. The fact that she won the popular vote, and still lost, is a sign that Facebook's micro-targeting does threaten democracy. The Russians knew they wouldn't have to influence a majority of Americans, thanks to the electoral college. Just those in key states, and then, only those most susceptible to their propaganda. Microtargeting is what allowed them to reach the right people and maximize the effect of their influence campaign.

ThomPete 9y ago
The fact that she won the popular vote has to do with the US electoral system nothing else. The actual things that hurt Hillary weren't some FB campaign by Russians as it was dwarfed by the amount of money she used herself on facebook. Echo chamber has to do with not hearing other arguments than those you already agree with. Before the social media, it was much harder to get outside of that echo chamber because you weren't exposed to opposing thoughts as you are now. We have literally never been better informed on a different perspective than we are today, whether some people choose to ignore facts as ex with a lot of the conspiracy nuts have absolutely nothing to do with social media. It's always been like that exhibit A being 9/11.
- Blondisla 9y ago
  Social media doesn't make it easier to get out of the echo chamber. It encourages you to stay, by feeding you a constant drip of content you're likely to agree with. If you're one of those conspiracy nuts, you can tailor your twitter feed to get all your news from Brietbart and Infowars. This was possible before the internet, just not as easy. I agree that the electoral college is a larger issue, and I agree that democrats can't lay all the blame on russian interference. But any difference the Russians made was helped by microtargeting. Facebook knows way more about it's users than any traditional media outlet knows about it's audience.
  - ThomPete 9y ago
    Compared to living in a small village only listening to opinions from the news it definitely is getting out of the echo chamber. Your feed is a combination of many things among others who your interact with. If you are a person who only want to hang out with people who believe exactly like you then sure. But most people aren't like that they have friends based on where they came from if it's facebook or based on what they are into ex. like with twitter. You didn't use to have that much access to other peoples opininions as you have today. I am simply not seing anything to back what you are saying up.

ThomPete 9y ago

The fact that she won the popular vote has to do with the US electoral system nothing else. The actual things that hurt Hillary weren't some FB campaign by Russians as it was dwarfed by the amount of money she used herself on facebook. Echo chamber has to do with not hearing other arguments than those you already agree with. Before the social media, it was much harder to get outside of that echo chamber because you weren't exposed to opposing thoughts as you are now. We have literally never been better informed on a different perspective than we are today, whether some people choose to ignore facts as ex with a lot of the conspiracy nuts have absolutely nothing to do with social media. It's always been like that exhibit A being 9/11.

Blondisla 9y ago
Social media doesn't make it easier to get out of the echo chamber. It encourages you to stay, by feeding you a constant drip of content you're likely to agree with. If you're one of those conspiracy nuts, you can tailor your twitter feed to get all your news from Brietbart and Infowars. This was possible before the internet, just not as easy. I agree that the electoral college is a larger issue, and I agree that democrats can't lay all the blame on russian interference. But any difference the Russians made was helped by microtargeting. Facebook knows way more about it's users than any traditional media outlet knows about it's audience.
- ThomPete 9y ago
  Compared to living in a small village only listening to opinions from the news it definitely is getting out of the echo chamber. Your feed is a combination of many things among others who your interact with. If you are a person who only want to hang out with people who believe exactly like you then sure. But most people aren't like that they have friends based on where they came from if it's facebook or based on what they are into ex. like with twitter. You didn't use to have that much access to other peoples opininions as you have today. I am simply not seing anything to back what you are saying up.