An echo chamber is defined as “an environment in which a person encounters only beliefs or opinions that coincide with their own, so that their existing views are reinforced and alternative ideas are not considered.” This type of environment is never more prevalent than when on social media. To examine echo chambers in real time, Laura Jakli from Stanford University conducted a study where she and her team looked at 40,000 Twitter users and sorted theme based on their political views. As it turns out, when a controversial topic came up, there was a shocking lack of moderate viewpoints.
Usage of hashtags, suggested accounts to follow, and the conversations you take part in all factor into what comes up on your social media feed, be it Facebook or Twitter. Studies show that when politically active on social media, you tend to be grouped with those who share your ideas and political slants. To learn more about this topic overall, check out these articles on The California Report and Vox.
https://www.kqed.org/news/11703717/how-social-media-echo-chambers-drown-out-the-voices-in-the-middle
LIS 4022 Spring 2020 