What role do algorithms play in creating your social media filter bubble?

Algorithms play a significant role in creating social media filter bubbles by personalizing content based on users’ preferences, behaviors, and interactions. These algorithms analyze a user’s activity, such as likes, shares, comments, and search history, to predict and serve content that aligns with their interests and viewpoints. While this personalization enhances user engagement and satisfaction, it also limits exposure to diverse perspectives, reinforcing existing beliefs and creating an echo chamber. As a result, users are more likely to encounter information that confirms their biases, leading to polarized opinions and reducing opportunities for constructive discourse across differing viewpoints.

Algorithms are the most foundational building block of computer science - they are the instructions that a computer follows in order to do anything. At its core, an algorithm will take some input, do some processing, then give some output. In social media, people often talk about content their algorithm shows them, from funny videos on topics they're interested in to political adverts aimed at their demographic. This means that things such as your likes, comments and shares serve as an input to that website's algorithm, which then applies some complex processing to it in order to output content it thinks will interested you. Such content is often similar to what you normally look at, which can lead to a reinforcement of existing beliefs.

As CEO, I get tons of tech news on social media. It's useful, but lately, it all feels the same. Where are the wild ideas to shake things up? That's why I'm breaking out of the "tech bubble." Here's what I'm doing: 1. Following different people: Like a good team with diverse skills, I follow people from various backgrounds – artists, thinkers, and scientists. These connections spark amazing ideas. 2 Feeding my curiosity: Algorithms track likes, but curiosity guides me. I seek things that challenge my ideas and make me think differently. I want fresh perspectives to inspire. 3. Leading by example: Breaking the tech bubble shows my team it's okay too. A mix of ideas fuels creativity, keeping my team ahead!

Essentially, algorithms on platforms like Facebook or Twitter are designed to show you content based on your previous interactions, preferences, and behavior. This can create a filter bubble, where you're only exposed to information and opinions that align with your existing views, potentially reinforcing biases and limiting exposure to diverse perspectives. Understanding Algorithm Basics helps to grasp how these algorithms shape our online experiences and influence the content we consume.

Algorithms influence the choices and what is seen on social media by a particular user. Determining how content is filtered, ranked, selected and recommended to the user based on choices Algorithms influence the choices and what is seen on social media by a particular user. Determining how content is filtered, ranked, selected and recommended to the user based on choices

Algorithms keep track of your activity online and the link that you clicked on, then creates and offers contents to your feed based on those activities. It uses the list of your contacts and suggests you to follow them in different medium of social media. If it finds you are interested in subjects , it brings more of that subjects and topics to you .

It's a great feeling knowing that you see/hear what you love and not just what you need to see or hear. The social media filter bubble is doing the amazing things with the help of algorithms that learn and adapt.

By analyzing your interests, preferences, and past choices, algorithms personalize content to match your unique profile. This tailored approach aligns content with what you frequently engage with and spend more time on, effectively increasing user engagement and the overall time spent on the platform.

Like (interact with) what you want to see more of, not what you want people to think about you. This simple rule engages your personal DJ to build your exact, specific bubble.

A potentially good algorithm will be regulated to have a built-in diversification component, so the amount of attention platforms are allowed to harvest per user per day is balanced to the psychological impact (beliefs/mood/habits…)

1. Personalization and Engagement: The algorithms prioritize content that has higher engagement metrics, (likes and shares). Leads to the promotion of sensational or emotionally charged content, which can create an echo chamber effect. (GCFGlobal.org). 2. Reinforcement of Existing Beliefs: have significant implications during events like elections. Example: the 2016 U.S. presidential election, the use of algorithms to serve politically biased content influenced the information voters were exposed to. (Towards AI).3. Self-Selected and Pre-Selected Personalization: Even though people might diversify their news sources online, the algorithms can still limit exposure to a wider range of content by filtering out (Reuters Institute).

Echo chambers are not something you're forced into, but rather symbols of rigidity. It's like sitting at home for years — if you never go out, you'll never see the sun.

There is no such thing as breaking a bubble, since building bubbles is the nature of recommendation engines. It’s better to think of it as modifying the bubble. Just interact with the content you'd like to steer your bubble towards.

I do this all the time! ?? I deliberately watch not so interesting video about the history or pop culture all the way until the end, to signal the algorithm I was into it and I want more content like that. I do it because of a decision to learn more about a topic I lack knowledge of, not because of a genuine interest. Once I get fed up with a topic (or notice I am being over-served by that content type) I train myself to quickly swipe out at the start to simulate lack of interest. It’s a game algorithms and I play all the time. ??

Imagine you're travelling in your car. Where you go is what you see. When you camp, your view doesn't change. But when you drive, it changes permanently, although you keep some memories. Steering your bubble works in a similar way.

Algorithms don’t play any role. Big company do that and money plays. How can algorithms play a role? It is the man behind the algorithm that plays the role and the opponent companies play the counter roles.