Where do most Americans get their news? Identifying the news platforms people use (e.g., TV or print) is helpful, but it’s not the only important thing to know. Another critical question is how many different sources do people use within these platforms? This is significant because people tend to gravitate to a few sources that typically echo opinions they already hold. People watch just one news channel, listen to just one radio station, or read just one newspaper because the information provided conforms to their existing biases. Social media exaggerates this situation because the algorithms that drive new posts to individuals’ feeds are designed to keep those users on sites as long as possible. This is accomplished by showing users new content that has been selected just for them. As a result, people end up in an information echo chamber where what they see is heavily slanted toward what they already agree with. It’s up to consumers to break out of these echo chambers to learn about other points of view.

In this activity, students work in teams to examine their personal information echo chambers and create a plan to bring more balance to this aspect of their lives.

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