Algorithmic Echo Chambers: Are you in one?
~5 min read
Are you in control of your online experience?
Have you ever been scrolling social media, or YouTube, or online shopping sites and realized that you just keep seeing the same or similar thing over and over? The same products, the same memes, the same kinds of people offering the same kinds of opinions in 15-second soundbites.
Crafty algorithms have created our own personal echo chambers that route us to sites and content that reflect our search histories, shopping patterns, and current belief systems (based on “likes” and “follows”).
Beware the crafty algorithms
If you spend an appreciable amount of time scrolling on your phone daily, you’re being passively fed a steady drip-feed of content catered by sneaky algorithms. As a person who chooses to live with intentionality, this should offend you egregiously. We are being fed information from within our own echo chambers.
Without deliberate intentionality, we are not in control of our online experience.
The devious side of algorithmic feeds is the promotion of addiction to these platforms. You get a steady hit of dopamine every time you interact with a post you like, an opinion you already espouse, a hot take that confirms your worldview, etc. Again, for people who live intentionally, this likely feels like an intrusion.
Echo chambers: the good and the bad
An echo chamber is an environment in which you only encounter information and opinions that reflect and reinforce your own beliefs. This can be a very helpful human tendency to create strong social circles based on similar interests. However, it can also reinforce negative or even discriminatory opinions and beliefs when there are no opposing views to offer a more complete landscape. Without getting too far into the weeds, Facebook was a perfect example of this during global and political events over the last few years.
The internet and social media didn’t create the phenomenon of the echo chamber, but they certainly have exacerbated (and profited from) a natural human tendency to surround ourselves with like-minded people. Particularly on social media, echo chambers become even more restricted with the ability to “unfollow” people with differing beliefs, thus further tightening the boundaries of these chambers.
A stolen opportunity for curiosity
We have lost (or we’ve had stolen) a global opportunity to practice civility and curiosity in the face of disagreement and divergence. It further entrenches division by surrounding us with validating assumptions and corroborating hot takes. It removes the need to lean in with curiosity when you are met with divergence. Someone disagrees? Unfollow! Eviscerate them in the comment section!
Algorithms have taken from us online intentionality and civil discourse.
An echo chamber differs slightly from the phenomenon of groupthink. Groupthink occurs when members of a group want to minimize conflict and value conformity of opinion within the group. Those with differing opinions feel pressure to conform. An echo chamber exists when groups are specifically formed by excluding those who have differing opinions. This may occur through purposeful exclusion or simply through the natural tendency to surround ourselves with people who share our values and opinions.
What Can You Do?
Counteract your digital echo chamber with intention:
- Do your research – The first step is always awareness. Familiarize yourself with the nature of algorithms and algorithmic feeds. They are likely being used on every platform you use, including Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Youtube, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and search engines.
- Take control – Search “disable algorithmic feeds” for whatever social media platforms you frequent. This information regularly changes, so make sure you’re using the latest “how to” guides. Disable cross-site tracking on your smartphone, which is the practice of advertisers, business, and digital agencies tracking your online activity and browsing habits to further enhance algorithms.
- Practice intentionality and curiosity – We believe in living with intentionality and curiosity. We believe in maintaining curiosity about divergent worldviews. We believe civil discourse provides the worthiest opportunities for conversation, debate, connection, rumination, and genuine human growth. Algorithmic feeds and echo chambers are antithetical to this pursuit.
