Read on Twitter
A massive problem we face is that the entire internet is literally structured as a massive bias confirmation machine for both right and left.
Every web community you and I are a part of has a massive ad profit incentive to show you things about which, either, you already feel very strongly or a more radical views you're curious about.
These platforms knows these things about you due to your habits and media patterns, & viciously work through news feed algorithms to reinforce them.
Somewhat concerned about a radical cultural trend or a societal view point you feel is backward?
The internet shows you both more of those kind of takes and more people outraged by them.
The internet shows you both more of those kind of takes and more people outraged by them.
Personal example: several years ago, I saw a PragerU video that I thought succinctly refuted an idea that was prevalent when I was a kid.
It was well thought out and I liked it so I subconsciously filed it away.
It was well thought out and I liked it so I subconsciously filed it away.
Recently, I decided to look the video up & watch it again.
One of the top videos Google showed me(because they throttle PragerU
) was a Reaction video by (what turned out to be) a quasi-alt right personality dunking on the video(or attempting to, I didn't find him persuasive.)
One of the top videos Google showed me(because they throttle PragerU
) was a Reaction video by (what turned out to be) a quasi-alt right personality dunking on the video(or attempting to, I didn't find him persuasive.)
The video had 1mil views and I was curious what his angle was, so I watched it.
He did not have an good argument, and he had to concede several of the main points and, basically, spent the whole time just trying to cast doubts on the argument rather than trying to refute it.
He did not have an good argument, and he had to concede several of the main points and, basically, spent the whole time just trying to cast doubts on the argument rather than trying to refute it.
But the point is, now that I have watched the video, Google has spent the last several days pushing me other videos and articles from specious sources trying to convince me of this ahistorical, alt-right position. All from a website asinine enough to consider PragerU "radical".
Of course, I wasn't convinced - no harm, no foul, right?
Yet this exact situation is happening millions of times a day, on both Alt-right and radical left.
Is it convincing every one of radical positions? I wasn't, in this case.
Is it moving the needle? I think so.
Yet this exact situation is happening millions of times a day, on both Alt-right and radical left.
Is it convincing every one of radical positions? I wasn't, in this case.
Is it moving the needle? I think so.
I think it's likely made me care more than I should've about some things & probably not enough about others, & I think it likely has done that to you, as well.
So, what to do about it? I have no clue; I don't think we can just leave.
But I do think knowing about it is a start.
So, what to do about it? I have no clue; I don't think we can just leave.
But I do think knowing about it is a start.
