Social media platforms often become toxic because of their design, which naturally creates echo chambers where people only hear opinions similar to their own. Petter Törnberg, a researcher from the University of Amsterdam, found that these issues are not caused by algorithms or people’s tendency to seek negativity, but are embedded in the structure of social media itself. His studies show that even without algorithms pushing similar content, people still end up in segregated spaces. Surprisingly, filter bubbles, often blamed for creating homogeneity, might actually help by encouraging diverse interactions. This research suggests that without a major redesign, social media will continue to have these problems.
QUESTION: How might the way social media is structured impact your ability to see different perspectives and form your own opinions?
RIP social media. What comes next is messy.
