Mike Masnick ✅Jan 17, 2023
I keep having interesting debates with people here on Mastodon, disproving the idea that it's an "echo chamber." But a few days ago, someone insisted to me that social media was obviously a net negative on society, and when someone else asked him to back that up, the user indicated that it had created echo chambers, and pointed to a short list of studies. I pointed out that the actual research did not support his conclusions, and he told me I had not read far enough... (continued...)
Show threadMike Masnick ✅Jan 17, 2023

... I responded by highlighting the summary of one of the links *he* posted (a meta study of many studies), saying... the opposite. That research said: "In summary, the work reviewed here suggests echo chambers are much less widespread than is commonly assumed, finds no support for the filter bubble hypothesis..."

In response... that user blocked me.

So, yeah, I mean, I guess sometimes it does create echo chambers & filter bubbles. If you choose to respond that way...

Show threadkingdom krumb
@mmasnick I have certainly noticed a number of people these day whose brains are broken. Belief in wild conspiracy theories abounds and fascism seems to have been on the rise in many places around the world. I assume that social media (and online "news" sources) has played a big role in that. Not so? Is that just an illusion?
Jan 17, 2023 at 2:18amWeb
Show threadJoan Van TasselJan 17, 2023
@kingdomkrumb @mmasnick I wonder if there isn't a relationship between pandemics (or other public shocks) and widespread public lunacy and panics. But maybe not always. There are cases throughout history - medieval period, 18th and 19th century in Europe (witches) and U.S. (Salem witches) that I've heard of. Probably more that I just don't know about.
Show threadkingdom krumbJan 17, 2023
@JoanVT @mmasnick Definitely. The thing is, the election of DJT happened before the pandemic. Things were actually pretty good. Perhaps in the US, one could point to the growing Latino population + election of a black president as triggering a backlash from whites. But the turn to toward nationalism has been seen in other countries too, like Brazil and India.
Show threadJoan Van TasselJan 17, 2023

@kingdomkrumb @mmasnick

At the risk of controversy, I believe that If Clinton had publicly and openly apologized for the private server, held regular press conferences, and acted like she enjoyed campaigning (and not like a cornered animal), she would have won the election. Similarly, when he stalked her during that terrible debate, if she had turned around and said: "stop sneaking around, Mr. Trump. I'm not scared of bullies and I'm not giving ground.

Show threadJoan Van TasselJan 17, 2023
@kingdomkrumb @mmasnick Skulk back to your own corner." I don't think Trump won; I think Clinton lost. And I was very sad about it.
The global move toward authoritarianism is real. It is the last, worst act of global capitalism, seeking even more than it's almost total grip on world economy. Billionaires are not satisfied with anything less than their own fantasy world private islands with the rest of the world enslaved to their capricious interests. I leave you with Twitter & Epstein.
Show threadDancingwiththebelovedJan 18, 2023
@JoanVT @kingdomkrumb @mmasnick no, public lunacy became most evident five years before the pandemic 🤪🤣
Show threadTallish_TomJan 17, 2023
@kingdomkrumb @mmasnick
Widespread belief in wild conspiracy theories & fascism have certainly happened before, so Social Media's role is probably more nuanced than "being the reason".
Algorithms that generate "engagement", where engagement = eyballs & clicks may be an amplifier.
OTOH, simply having more links may be the only amplifier needed.
People spent most of history interacting with, probably, 100 people at most, & far fewer regularly.
We are not built for this environment.