4 ms·
TL;DR from the abstract of the actual study: > In a randomized experiment, we find that deactivating Facebook for the four weeks before the 2018 US midterm ele
by ryannevius 7y ago
TL;DR from the abstract of the actual study:
> In a randomized experiment, we find that deactivating Facebook for the four weeks before the 2018 US midterm election (i) reduced online activity, while increasing offline activities such as watching TV alone and socializing with family and friends; (ii) reduced both factual news knowledge and political polarization; (iii) increased subjective well-being; and (iv) caused a large persistent reduction in post-experiment Facebook use. Deactivation reduced post-experiment valuations of Facebook, suggesting that traditional metrics may overstate consumer surplus.
- wideasleep1 7y ago" (ii) reduced both factual news knowledge and political polarization; " I interpret that as 'reduced propaganda and it's resultant effects". Much like giving up television.
- dcabrejas 7y agoPolarization has been the trend in the western world for the last decade, slowly but surely countries are being divided and polirized more and more. It doesn't paint a good picture of the future for sure, and social media is part of the problem unfortunately.
- Nasrudith 7y agoPersonally I consider polarization the ultimate in intellectual laziness as a scapegoat. The problem is that people disagree! Not that they any stances are particularly evil or insane, factionalism, zero sum thinking, nor any actual solution in mind. Asking if they have any ideas for a solution just gets a dirty look as you commit the faux pau of actually attempting to get people to think. Instead it is just one word which tries to sound smart but is utterly vapid repeated as nausuem as the source of modern ills. Polarization! Never mind that lack of it has historically lead to /way worse/ outcomes. Unity is not a good thing in itself.