Consider This from NPR Does Social Media Leave You Feeling Angry? That Might Be Intentional
Sep 13, 2022
Max Fisher, a New York Times reporter and author of "The Chaos Machine," dives into the disconcerting effects of social media on society. He discusses how algorithms prioritize anger-inducing content, heightening political polarization and even sparking violence, such as during the Rohingya genocide and the January 6 insurrection. Fisher sheds light on the profit-driven motives of tech companies, questioning their responsibility in fostering safe online environments. He also explores potential solutions to reduce the emotional fallout for users.
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Facebook and Violence in Germany
- Research on anti-refugee attacks in Germany (2015-2017) revealed a correlation between Facebook usage and violence.
- Attacks decreased when Facebook experienced outages in specific locations.
Social Media and Global Violence
- Social media's role in ethnic violence and genocide is evident globally.
- Examples include WhatsApp in Myanmar and YouTube in the U.S. Capitol insurrection.
The Algorithmic Outrage Cycle
- Social media algorithms prioritize outrageous content, creating echo chambers.
- This constant exposure to extreme content intensifies outrage and polarization.
