Algorithms 101

Post date: Dec 05, 2020 5:13:53 AM

When someone "Googles" or "Bings" a topic, search engines lists sites about that topic in a certain order determined by an algorithm... The most common search engines give priority to sites that this user has visited often and is likely to rate highly... If users go more often to sites listed on top, as most people probably do, then they are bound to end up visiting more sites that support their political views...

Many are not even aware that algorithms can manipulate them into echo chambers...‎

Another tool for selecting websites—word of mouth (so to speak) in social media—might be even more common... Many people use social media to recommend websites, and their friends then follow their recommendations... In this case, it is obvious why theists with theist friends end up visiting websites of theism news sources whereas atheists with atheist friends end up visiting websites of atheist news sources... Both sides end up in echo chambers, and they hear nothing that comes from outside their chambers... The edge of each person’s echo chamber is where silence begins... Stay Safe!!!

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