Reality Distortion Feeds

Feed Yourself A Balanced Diet, Keep Your Feed Balanced

May 02, 2024

““Feed yourself a balanced diet, Keep your Feed balanced”

We live in a time dominated by social media feeds, where sometimes, but not always the lines between truth and fiction blur. Our feeds are an endless loop of opinions and perspectives that “echo” our own. One might be asking,

What is wrong with it?

There is nothing wrong with it, but history has taught us otherwise about the dangers of being trapped in an 'Echo Chamber’

Salem Witch Trials

The Salem Witch Trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. More than 200 people were accused. Thirty people were found guilty, nineteen of whom were executed by hanging [1] .

The hysteria began when a group of young girls in Salem Village claimed to be possessed by the devil and accused several local women of witchcraft. It was one of the deadliest witch hunt in the history of colonial North America.

Let's examine the 'Salem Witch Trials' from an 'Echo Chamber perspective.' An 'Echo Chamber' has the following characteristics:

Closed Environment
Reinforcement of Existing Beliefs
Ignoring or Frowning Upon Dissenting Views
Amplification of Existing Views
Ignorance of Critical Thinking and Skepticism

“Salem Witch Trials” had the same characteristics

Closed Environment: The trials took place within a tightly knit community where social interactions were limited within the village.
Reinforcement of Existing Beliefs: Belief in witchcraft was deeply ingrained in the Puritan culture of Salem.
Ignoring or Frowning Upon Dissenting Views: Individuals who questioned the validity of the accusations or provided alternative explanations were often accused themselves, discouraging dissenting viewpoints.
Amplification of Existing Views: The hysteria surrounding the trials led to an escalation of accusations and a heightened sense of fear and paranoia within the community
Ignorance of Critical Thinking and Skepticism: Despite the lack of substantial evidence, the court system during the trials frequently failed to apply critical thinking or skepticism

The Salem Witch Trials is a good example of how an “Echo Chamber” thought culture can amplify fears and unverified beliefs, leading to tragic outcomes. Even today, in our digital age, we encounter a modern manifestation of this through 'Reality Distorting Social Media Feeds.'

Reality Distortion Feeds

The social media feeds we engage with daily are shaped by our preferences, including likes, dislikes, comments, purchases, and searches. These feeds often become 'Echo Chambers,' reflecting our own biases and viewpoints. We find solace and comfort in hearing/seeing our beliefs reinforced from people virtually around us in these social media feeds.

Why Is it a Problem ?

Humans are naturally homophilic, meaning we gravitate towards people like ourselves. Therefore, being trapped in an 'Echo Chamber' is not inherently wrong. What is important is to understand how to harness it to our advantage, while also recognizing when it MAY become a vulnerability.

What MAY be The Problem

Reality-Distorting Social Media Feeds' may drive us to make decisions or express opinions that are biased toward extremes. This could be as simple as purchasing goods or services or as significant as making major life decisions.

On the extreme side, there is a high possibility that individuals or groups, influenced by these reality-distorting echo chamber feeds, may end up making decisions and taking actions similar to those seen in the 'Salem Witch Trials.

One might say, 'The majority are not affected by it,' which is evidently true [2]; yet, we human beings are historically influenced not by the majority viewpoint but by the admiration, ideologies, and views of the minority

If you are wondering “How!”,

Worldwide, social media content is produced by 5-10% of the population, while the rest consume it. Of those consumers, only a handful actively participate in conversations around this content and act on them. By 'act,' we mean activities ranging from participating in protests to voting on decisions, both minor and major, that influence our lives [2]. We can safely say that interactions within social media not only shape our purchases but also drive tangible changes in the real world.

As influencers and followers, we have a social responsibility to make decisions in a balanced manner rather than being guided by the biases of an 'Echo Chamber'.

Easy “Just Get Rid Of Social Media” ?

If we blame the 'System or Tool' and fail to correct the ways we use it, we risk regressing to an 'Age of Darkness.

Every tool humans have invented, from the knife to fire, has the potential to harm us in one way or another. So, moving forward, adopting sensible habits, as we have done with the 'knife' and 'fire', may take us to a better place.

What Can We Do ?

For Users:

Variety: Instead of always reading or tweeting about “Political Analysis and World Affairs,” consider listening to good music or watching comedy.
Seek Diverse Opinions: Actively look for opposing opinions and perspectives.
Program Your Personification Algorithm: hack your algorithmic social media “Personification” in a balanced manner by liking a variety of opinions and perspectives.
Reset Browsing History: Occasionally reset your social media browsing history to start new.
Engage in Healthy Debate: Participate in healthy debates that value and appreciate opposing opinions, avoid trolling.

For Social Media Giants:

Balance Goals with Responsibility: Explore ways to meet business objectives while also being socially responsible. A good starting point is to improve the “Personification” algorithms.
Prioritize Customer Needs: Remember, the customer is still king, but it's not just about what the customer wants; it's about what the customer needs. A truly satisfied customer becomes an excellent advocate, as opposed to a dissatisfied one.

Here's a toast to a better cyber life, and we leave you with another cyber hygiene thought for the day.

““Feed yourself a balanced diet, Keep your Feed balanced”