Arrr! Messin' with Facebook feeds won't mend disunity, say studies. It be a treacherous task, mateys!
2023-07-27
Arrr, ye scurvy dogs! Tis been discovered by these fancy scholars that fiddlin' with how folks find news on social-media platforms don't do much to alter their political whimsies, knowledge, or behavior. They dug deep into the treasure chest of user data from Facebook and Instagram, both part of Meta (once known as Facebook). Aye, based in Menlo Park, California. With the company's...
In a groundbreaking study that would make even the saltiest sea dog raise an eyebrow, researchers have discovered that adjusting how folks get their news on social media doesn't always shake up their political views, knowledge, or behavior. Arrr! This treasure trove of findings comes from a band of clever scholars who had the pleasure of delving into a vast collection of user data from Facebook and Instagram, which are now under the banner of Meta, based in Menlo Park, California.The scurvy dogs examined how users were presented with news and other content on these platforms, hoping to break the curse of the echo chamber effect. But alas, their efforts didn't seem to make a pirate's worth of difference! The study suggests that simply changing the way information is served up on social media doesn't magically change people's political beliefs or actions.
It's a bit like a mutiny on a ship, really. No matter how much you rearrange the sails, the vessel still plunders and pillages the same way. While some were hoping for a complete transformation of users' minds, the study's findings send those hopes to Davy Jones' locker.
But let's not despair, ye landlubbers! Although the researchers didn't find any significant change in political opinions or behavior, they did uncover some valuable nuggets. The study revealed that users who were exposed to a more diverse range of news sources were indeed more knowledgeable about certain topics. Ahoy! There's hope for broadening horizons yet!
So, me hearties, while it may be tempting to believe that a simple tweak to the way we access news on these social-media ships will turn the tide, it seems that the waters run deeper than that. The study reminds us that changing hearts and minds is a challenge fit for the likes of Blackbeard himself. But fear not, for there is still treasure to be found in diversifying our sources and discovering new perspectives.