??I want to break free??

Scrolling in the Deep

Doomscrolling again? You’re not alone. Seemingly omniscient social media algorithms are not just determined to?keep you tuned into platforms; they’re also wired?to divide us.

In the early days of social media, algorithms were serving us what they thought?we?wanted based on whatever captured our attention most, for better or worse. More recently, though,?we’re seeing what?influencers?want us to see. Research shows that more than the networks themselves,?influencers are the primary drivers?of division. As a result of that influence, we and their huge audiences are left discussing the same handful of talking points, trending topics, and hot buttons that everybody else latches onto from the “safety” of our affirming, carefully cultivated, algorithm-reinforced comfort zones, a.k.a. our echo chambers or?filter bubbles.?

Notably, politicians latch onto those same hot topics and hammer them home. Consider the behaviors we saw from political influencers during the 2020 election.?According to Pew Research, lawmakers (Congress and the like) on social media saw a 586% increase in likes/favorites on their content from 2016 to 2020. In the same time period, there was a 32% decrease in links shared by both sides, meaning influencers, often incentivized by ever greater reach, dominated even more of the online conversation... not a great situation for understanding the nuance of complex political and social issues from multiple points of view. Warped information environments that force us into such siloed corners?—?where our political identities increasingly become our?dominant?social identities—?are?the most dangerous thing for a democracy?and a major contributor to polarization and the rise of dehumanization.?

So, what can we do? Maybe the best path forward is the same advice we get from financial planners:?diversify our portfolios. Relying too much on a single person or news source for information and analysis increases risk and volatility?—?in other words, information that is slanted, skewed, biased, extreme, or just plain inaccurate.?We have the agency to step outside of our bubbles and “diversify.”?It’s important to be intentional about our sources of information and entertainment so we can avoid casual extremism in the form of narrow and inflexible points of view. It’s hard! It takes more time to seek out diverse points of view and can be uncomfortable when we engage with news sources we have previously written off as “on the other side.” But we’ll be rewarded with more nuanced and informed points of view, a more informed electorate, and, over time, a healthier democracy.

Make It A Habit:

Use these tips to become a more critical consumer of information.?

1. Don’t follow the leader:?Try following a diverse range of social media accounts, not just the ones platforms suggest to you. Make sure they are from varying perspectives and credible sources.?
2. Do your due diligence: Take some time and check the facts! Use reputable sites like?Snopes,?Politifact, or?FactCheck.org?to verify.??
3. Break time: Choose a few hours a day (and if you want to live on the dangerous side, a few days a week) to take a break from social media. This can relieve stress and anxiety from being inundated with polarized topics blasting on repeat. Replace the time by doing something nourishing —?go for a walk out in nature, eat a good meal, spend time with those you love. You’ll thank yourself later.

Updates from our movement:?

• Last week, during the biggest week in sports, we touched down in Arizona to join forces with Movement Partners George Atallah of the NFL Players Association, former NFL player and entrepreneur Dhani Jones, and Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Kelvin Beachum to convene key leaders passionate about leveraging sports to bring people together across differences.?George gave this great interview discussing our Super Bowl event on NBC News Now. Here’s what some of the participants had to say about the experience:?
• “I’m excited about being here because a lot of my life is centered around being able to have difficult conversations amongst many different people. Being a professional athlete, hosting various TV shows, and being in the world of business, I have found it very important to tackle ideas, thoughts, and mindsets head-on. We’ve been stretched the past few years, and bringing people back to where we can have solid discussions is important.”?—Dhani Jones, entrepreneur and former NFL linebacker
• “The best solutions stem from collaborative efforts. The mission of supporting one another despite creed or background is what attracted me to Starts With Us. It’s an honor to support a movement based on growing, learning, and thriving as a collective.” —Kelvin Beachum, Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman