POLITICS
What's Up with Political Info on Social Media?
GLOBALWed Nov 06 2024
Ever wondered what people who don't follow any political parties see on social media during elections? You might think they're getting a mix of views, but that's not the case. A study found that these folks, let's call them "political outsiders, " mainly see posts from a few political parties. It's like they're stuck in a small corner of the social media political world, missing out on the bigger picture.
You might ask, why is this happening? Well, social media algorithms have a lot to do with it. They show users content based on their interests and past activity. So, even if you don't follow any political parties, the algorithms might still feed you information from parties you've interacted with in the past.
This can be a problem because it limits your viewpoint. You might think you're getting a balanced view, but you're actually just seeing one side of the story. It's like looking at a painting through a tiny keyhole—you only see a small part, not the whole picture.
So, what can we do about this? One way is to be more active in seeking out different views. Don't just rely on what the algorithms give you. Go out and explore different political pages and profiles. This way, you can get a broader view and make more informed decisions.
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questions
What factors might prevent political detachment users from receiving a wider range of political information?
How does social media algorithms contribute to the limited exposure of political information to detached users?
What biases might be introduced by the limited exposure to political information?
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