Opinion: Let’s use social distancing to slow the viral spread of misinformation on social media

Facebook has been quietly experimenting with reducing the amount of political content it puts in users’ news feeds. The move is a tacit acknowledgment that the way the company’s algorithms work can be a problem.

Throughout millions of years of evolution, these principles have been coded into the human brain in the form of cognitive biases that come with names like familiarity, mere-exposure and bandwagon effect. If everyone starts running, you should also start running; maybe someone saw a lion coming and running could save your life. You may not know why, but it’s wiser to ask questions later.

Social media such as Facebook FB, -0.23%, Instagram, Twitter TWTR, +0.73%, YouTube GOOG, -0.57% and TikTok rely heavily on AI algorithms to rank and recommend content. These algorithms take as input what you “like,” comment on and share – in other words, content you engage with. The goal of the algorithms is to maximize engagement by finding out what people like and ranking it at the top of their feeds.

Algorithms aren’t the only thing affected by engagement bias – it can affect people, too. Evidence shows that information is transmitted via “complex contagion,” meaning the more times someone is exposed to an idea online, the more likely they are to adopt and reshare it. When social media tells people an item is going viral, their cognitive biases kick in and translate into the urge to pay attention to it and share it.

First, because of people’s tendency to associate with similar people, their online neighborhoods are not very diverse. The ease with which a social-media user can unfriend those with whom they disagree pushes people into homogeneous communities, often referred to as echo chambers. Dialing down engagement What to do? Technology platforms are currently on the defensive. They are becoming more aggressive during elections in taking down fake accounts and harmful misinformation. But these efforts can be akin to a game of whack-a-mole.

Maybe you’re the wrong guys to make a statement on that topic GME

Maybe we should just have free speech.

The Right Wing caught onto that quickly though. Their minions are now posting political talking points in any type of thread.

wow

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

‘The Card Counter’ Lets Oscar Isaac Turn the Burner Down LowThe movie, which opened last weekend following a world premiere in Venice, holds more than a few surprises up its sleeve.
Source: wmag - 🏆 723. / 51 Read more »

Facebook's Instagram chief uses awkward comparison with cars to defend social media harms'Cars create way more value in the world than they destroy,' said Instagram chief Adam Mosseri said. 'And I think social media is similar.' LOVE EACHOTHER! SHARE THE LOVE! As a retired print journalist, I do not want Facebook regulated by law. However, I do wish it and its divisions would do more on their own to block and remove blatantly incorrect content. All my achievements started with a determination to try, I took a bold decision with Lisakendriick which impact so much on my financial status.
Source: CNBC - 🏆 12. / 72 Read more »

Fauci says there is 'no evidence' COVID vaccines cause reproductive issuesDr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, has debunked a viral tweet from rapper Nicki Minaj that suggested the COVID-19 vaccine could cause reproductive issues. How do they really know if it will or not?!! It was an experiment after all!! FDA just approved the Phifer but it is not available yet for most of the public-at least not where I am. Minaj has a right to be concerned I think! She certainly has a right to speak her mind on it Lol they claimed that covid has adverse psychological effect which could lead to assigned-at birth-male impotence, what are the odds that similar psychological effects could associate with the Covid vaccines teamnicki 1 teamgov 0
Source: YahooNews - 🏆 380. / 59 Read more »

Sydney Sweeney: TikTok Mechanic, Hollywood Power Player, Voyeur. sydney_sweeney talks to claire_ifying about PrimeVideo's TheVoyeurs, euphoriaHBO season 2, dealing with social media, and more ⤵️ sydney_sweeney Claire_ifying PrimeVideo euphoriaHBO i love this interview so much 🥺 sydney_sweeney Claire_ifying PrimeVideo euphoriaHBO i absolutely loved this article!! sydney_sweeney Claire_ifying PrimeVideo euphoriaHBO One of the best...love everything she has been in recently. Simply a big fan!
Source: TeenVogue - 🏆 481. / 51 Read more »

Parenting, Baby Names, Celebrities, and Royal News | CafeMom.com
Source: CafeMom - 🏆 701. / 51 Read more »

Britney Spears Taking “Little Break” From Social Media Following EngagementThe singer deleted her Instagram account on Tuesday, worrying fans. Well, she looks so aged, how time flies. Good britneyspears take all the beak you need darlin! 😷🎤✌️❤️
Source: THR - 🏆 411. / 53 Read more »