Introduction

Engineers, coders, and high-ranking people who work for big social media companies such as Facebook and Instagram, don’t let their children use social media. Ever wonder why? Aside from the spike in young girls saying they don’t like the way they look since its invention, social media harbors another frightening reality. Whether it’s through Twitter or Google, each program’s algorithm tracks everything you do, what you click on, how long you stay on it, what you post, and what you search for. All of this so it can keep recommending things that you’ll like, things that will grab your attention. Because of this, most people find themselves in a vicious cycle of algorithms recommending media that expresses the same viewpoints that they already had. The internet can give people an enormous amount of power, as much as it seems to take the option of choice away from you. And despite more access to information than we’ve ever known, it is easier than ever to be stuck in echo-chambers due to the internet and its algorithms. Moreover, it’s easier than ever to indoctrinate people, even educated people, into your way of thinking, however radical it is. The internet has a massive effect on American society and the function of its democracy, possibly with dire consequences.