Op-ed: Social Media Algorithms & Their Effects on American Politics

Introduction

• This op-ed, written by Angela Colabella, MEng 22 (IEOR), is part of a series from E295: Communications for Engineering Leaders at UC Berkeley.
• The op-ed discusses the impact of social media algorithms on political polarization in the United States.

Key Points

Political Polarization and Social Media

• According to a 2020 study by Brown University, the United States is experiencing higher rates of political polarization compared to other democracies.
• Social media has contributed to this polarization by creating echo chambers and spreading misinformation.
• Algorithms on social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok play a significant role in shaping user experiences and promoting certain content.

Algorithms and Their Effects

• Social media sites use algorithms to increase user engagement by recommending content based on past behavior.
• These recommendation algorithms can create informational echo chambers, spread false information, and introduce users to extreme ideologies.
• Rainie and Anderson from Pew Research Center discuss how algorithms lead to major political divides by creating filter bubbles and limiting exposure to diverse ideas.

Case Studies and Examples

• TikTok Study: Users interacting with transphobic content were quickly led to far-right and extremist content, showing the speed and intensity of algorithmic influence.
• Meta/Facebook: Internal studies revealed that algorithms were responsible for substantial growth in extremist content and group joins.

Ethical Concerns

• Meta, owner of Facebook and other platforms, has faced allegations regarding privacy and algorithmic influence.
• "The Facebook Papers" revealed internal knowledge of the negative impacts of their algorithms but a reluctance to alter practices due to company goals.

Proposed Solutions

• Increasing public awareness and transparency about how social media companies handle data and spread information.
• Implementing more legislation to protect the public from the harmful effects of these technologies.
• Encouraging users to be conscious of the effects of social media on personal and societal levels.

Conclusion

• The op-ed emphasizes the need for awareness and action regarding the influence of social media algorithms on political polarization and extremism.
• It argues for a balanced approach that includes transparency, regulation, and user awareness to mitigate these issues.

References

• Multiple studies and articles are referenced, including works from Pew Research Center, NPR, Washington Post, and more, illustrating the widespread concern about social media's role in political polarization.

This op-ed highlights the urgent need for addressing the effects of social media algorithms on American politics and advocates for increased accountability and legislative action to protect public interest.