4 ms·
I think the user created "echo chamber" is a real problem that is mentioned in passing here, but not really addressed. Many times, friends have told me that th
by klunger 12y ago
I think the user created "echo chamber" is a real problem that is mentioned in passing here, but not really addressed.
Many times, friends have told me that they either hid or simply unfriended connections that posted political or ideological viewpoints which differed from their own. Although I try to keep my feed diverse, I admit to doing the same for the particularly extreme posters.
It suspect this is one of several factors in the increased partisan polarization and really should be studied further.
- emotionalcode 12y agoI don't think that particular behavior is any different than how people naturally select and maintain social groups, though. Some level of homogeneity is necessary for discourse (common language), let alone civil discourse. I tend to think that people divide because they can't relate on a conceptual/experiential level; they begin with different perceptive assumptions. That's just a theory, though.
- VLM 12y ago"Although I try to keep my feed diverse" Why support someone else's "grassroots" advertising model? On the other hand, I have some FB friends who at least appear rational and interesting as long as you don't see any post containing Obama, Marxist, Kenyan, Job Creator, and a couple other key phrases. Keyword blocking would be an interesting feature to add to the "I don't want to see this" menu that is already present in FB. Add an option "contains keywords" and then select predetermined keywords. One interesting side effect is likely to be an explosion of vocabulary. Once I block the obvious keyphrases above, I'll just have a newsfeed spammed with 'bama, Stalinist, African, and anticapitalist. I'm not sure that would be an improvement. Or it'll look like modern spam with weirdly spelled words.