In this presentation we explore the idea of “echo chambers” in relation to social media. This includes examining if our social media feeds are just filled with viewpoints that are similar to our own, or if there is some diversity in what we are exposed to on these sites. We look at the concepts of selective exposure, the concept of strong vs. weak ties, and the persuasion matrix.
Presented by Alex Tang & Juli Whetstone
This is an important concept to think about. We tend to romanticize the internet as the free marketplace of ideas, when in reality it is brokered and filtered without our control or knowledge. It’s our own responsibility to seek out various viewpoints and ensure that we have more than one opinion on our radar.
That’s a great point, Lindsey. I think it is our job to search for multiple perspectives on certain issues. That is one of the reasons why I’m interested in critical media literacy. I think that navigating the Internet and social media should be incorporated more into classrooms because students need to know how the Internet is structured.