How have online echo chambers impacted
individuals' push towards political extremes?
Topic: Media and communication
Online echo chambers have garnered significant attention in contemporary media. It is
widely acknowledged as a recurring phenomenon that many individuals have overlooked the
implications of. This phenomenon, known as online echo chambers, pertains to digital
environments customised for each user by algorithms. These spaces are designed to display
content that aligns with the user's preferences, interests, and beliefs, thereby limiting
exposure to diverse or dissenting viewpoints (Robson, 2018).
This restriction of users' access to various viewpoints, arguments, and perspectives leads
individuals to gravitate towards like-minded groups, which in turn solidifies and perpetuates a
collective narrative, ultimately resulting in an absence of diverse opinions (Cinelli et al.,
2021). Though this phenomenon is seen through all big digital platforms with large user
bases, those same digital platforms do not share the same kind of algorithm, making the
digital echo-chambers manifest themselves in all different ways (Cinelli et al., 2021) .
Facebook and Twitter, now renamed as X, serve as a prime example of this. Twitter, an
American microblogging and social networking service, boasts a vast user base of
approximately 190 million individuals worldwide. This extensive reach allows for the rapid
sharing of various forms of media, news, ideas, and opinions among users. Twitter’s mission
statement focuses on empowering individuals to generate and disseminate thoughts and
data without hindrance, thereby fostering and safeguarding public discourse as the digital
equivalent of a communal gathering place (workat.tech, n.d.) . However, the question
remains: what strategies does Twitter employ to ensure that users remain engaged and
continue to return to the platform regularly?
Similar to many other social media platforms, Twitter utilizes an algorithm to tailor users'
feeds based on their political, social, and interest preferences. Users' preferences can be
inferred from the content they post or the endorsements they receive, which can be either
explicit or implicit. When preferences become concentrated in specific groups, polarization
occurs, resulting in distinct peaks of positive and negative opinions. This leads to a situation
where attitudes are focused in one or more groups, either with a clear, intense peak in
attitude or a bimodal distribution indicating positive versus negative perspectives. For
example, in a one-dimensional spectrum scenario, polarization is evident through two
distinct peaks representing positive and negative attitudes, with neutral opinions being either
absent or underrepresented. The concept of homophily in social interactions can be
measured by analyzing social networks and their structure in relation to user attitudes. Social
networks can be reconstructed using online data sources, such as Twitter's focus on tweets
containing links to news outlets with known political biases. Each news outlet is assigned a
political bias score, which helps determine an individual user's bias based on the average
scores of the news organizations they engage with. While this method may be effective for
distributing content to a large user base, not every social platform utilizes this approach.
Platforms like Reddit, which have a similar purpose to Twitter, may have different methods of
content distribution. (Cinelli et al., 2021).
But what role does this play in pushing people into extremities? Countless research was
made on the effect of ecochambers on those with mental illnesses. While this does not
directly correlate to all, it can viciously work as an analogy. An example of this are Pro-ana
spaces and their part in pushing people into reinforcing harmful behaviours. Recent studies
have also looked into how social media group dynamics can exacerbate behaviours that are
detrimental to mental health. A team of researchers at USC Viterbi’s Information Sciences
Institute (ISI) discovered that online social platforms create a cycle of eating disorder
content, trapping vulnerable individuals in pro-anorexia echo chambers. According to David
Chu, a computer science Ph.D. student at USC who works at ISI, "You’re basically two clicks
away from being sucked into the vicious cycle." (lee, 2024). Anorexia Nervosa is
characterized by self-starvation and is a type of eating disorder. Accounts of anorexia
nervosa typically portray the disorder in terms of individualistic factors such as genetic
predisposition, distorted perceptions of body size and shape, and experiential bodily
disturbances. It is important to note that anorexia nervosa is not the only type of eating
disorder, but it is the most prevalent and influential within the community. Pro-anorexia
environments are known for offering assistance, unity, advice, inspirational material, a feeling
of belonging, and empathy towards individuals struggling with eating disorders, in order to
support and encourage those same disordered practices (Osler and Krueger, 2021).
With the advent of the Internet, individuals diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) are
presented with unique opportunities to not only connect with others who have AN, but also to
establish online communities with them. These communities, serve as more than just
sources of AN-related information. They serve as ProAna environments. These are shared
spaces where individuals with AN come together, providing support and nurturing the
cognitive and emotional aspects of AN as a practised lifestyle. The primary objective of
these virtual groups is to promote anorexic and bulimic behaviours. Through socialization
processes, online communities can either encourage or trigger eating disorders. The
communal sharing within these online platforms can assist individuals struggling with bulimia
in managing feelings of guilt, which often leads to the breakdown of social connections and
interactions. Conversely, Pro-Ana online communities are predominantly comprised of
anorexic individuals or those aspiring to develop the disorder, who turn to online platforms
for guidance on weight loss, secretive fasting, or to seek out a severe trigger, a "companion"
to propel them further into the realm of eating disorders. These groups provide a sense of
allure through the adoption of a new identity, as well as social distinction and self-definition.
"Anorexia" is portrayed as a non-passive condition, it is an active disorder that engages the
individual, particularly in the initial stages, with these communities offering the allure of social
distinction within the group and the establishment of a new reality governed by specific and
shared regulations. Individuals become ensnared in these cycles, delving deeper into these
spaces, gradually becoming more entrenched in the language, behaviors, and regulations,
ultimately exacerbating their condition. This phenomenon illustrates the impact of echo
chambers within Pro-Ana groups, exemplifying how these chambers propel individuals
towards extreme behaviors (Lai et al., 2021).
On the other hand, this sentiment is not shared by all researchers. On the contrary, some
researchers argue that the impact of online echo chambers on political extremism is limited,
as there are various other factors at play. For instance, individuals do not rely solely on one
source for political information, but rather access a wide array of media outlets, including
traditional news sources and social media platforms. Therefore, studies focusing on a single
platform may not accurately capture the diverse experiences of individuals. Additionally, the
spread of fake news is often driven by cognitive laziness, as individuals may be more
inclined to accept information that aligns with their beliefs rather than critically evaluating its
accuracy. Furthermore, political parties have historically used tactics such as stoking anger
to mobilize supporters, highlighting the role of emotions in influencing political behavior
(Pazzasane, 2021).
Dr. Samoon Ahmad's research on The Psychology of Extremism acknowledges the
widespread belief that social media and websites amplifying in-group outrage contribute
significantly to the radicalization of individuals. However, these platforms merely intensify
existing sentiments rather than being the root cause of extremism or providing a
comprehensive explanation for the motivations behind the radicalization process. Various
models effectively trace the trajectory from radicalization to extremism, highlighting the
diverse nature of extremism that can manifest under various circumstances. Nonetheless, a
considerable amount of research tends to overlook the question of why certain individuals
are more prone to radicalization than others. Beelmann also describes how his
social-development model could be employed in different ways and at various periods of
development for optimal effect. He notes, for example, that the period between the ages of 8
and 12 is a sensitive time for the development of prejudices, while identity development and
nascent political socialization occur during adolescence, this could open a door for the
possibility of adults developing extreme political stances that are manifested as a result of
their early exposure to politics and the age at which this exposure occurred. Be by the
media, or in this case, the environment that said individual grew up in (Ahmad, 2020).
However, this analysis of political extremism fails to overlook the impact of media
polarization, online echo chambers on political extremism. The fragmentation of users and
the trend towards extreme perspectives have resulted in polarization that transcends mere
political allegiances. Individuals at opposite ends of the political spectrum not only hold
differing opinions on policy issues but also on fundamental truths. Despite the abundance of
accurate and impartial information accessible through a basic online search, factions such
as Democrats and Republicans maintain starkly contrasting perceptions of reality regarding
contentious topics. Research conducted by the Pew Research Center indicated that an
astonishing 73% of Democrats and Republicans struggle to find common ground on basic
facts. This divergence in viewpoints is largely attributed to the formation of echo chambers
on social media platforms. Platforms like Subreddits, Twitter Feeds, and Facebook groups
curate content that resonates with the convictions of their members, cultivating an
environment where individuals are exposed solely to information that reinforces their existing
beliefs. This selective exposure to information not only perpetuates confirmation bias but
also ignites a clash of realities between opposing factions, compelling them to seek
additional validation from like-minded peers and sources (DeVos, 2021).
But why is political extremism relevant? Political extremism in the United States has been
linked to numerous hate crimes, a deteriorating social climate, and heightened social
tensions. Political radicalism in the United States has resulted in an increase in hate crimes,
ecological harm, and societal tensions. In 2021, there were 38 incidents attributed to far-right
groups, which included a shooting rampage in Atlanta carried out by Robert Aaron Long, and
31 attacks by far-left groups, with a focus on physical assaults. Despite their differing beliefs,
the government, military, and police were the primary targets of domestic terrorism, with
various factions being responsible for these assaults. The perpetrators associated
themselves with a variety of ideologies and movements, including the QAnon conspiracy, the
sovereign citizen movement, militia groups, anarchism, anti-fascism, environmentalism, and
other anti-government and anti-authority philosophies. The next most common target for
violent far-left perpetrators was businesses, while the next most common target for violent
far-right individuals was private individuals, often targeted based on identity categories such
as race, ethnicity, religion, or gender (Doxsee et al., 2022).
Based on the research findings, it is reasonable to infer that online echo chambers indeed
influence and propel individuals to some degree towards extremisms, particularly political
extremisms, which poses a significant issue. The research findings suggest that individuals
who are exposed to online echo chambers are more likely to be influenced by extreme
political ideologies. This can lead to polarization and division within society, as individuals
become more entrenched in their beliefs and less willing to engage with opposing
viewpoints. This has the potential to exacerbate social and political tensions, and may
contribute to the spread of radicalization and extremism. As such, addressing the influence
of online echo chambers is crucial in mitigating the impact of extremism and promoting a
more cohesive and inclusive society.
In order to avoid falling into a vicious cycle, as David Chu, a computer science Ph.D. student
at USC who works at ISI says, it is crucial for individuals to be mindful of the fact that these
environments often dismiss contrasting viewpoints, leading to a perpetuation of confirmation
bias and oversimplification of complex realities. To combat this, it is recommended to
diversify information sources by seeking out credible news outlets with diverse perspectives
and engaging in cross-cultural learning to gain a more comprehensive understanding of
conflicts such as the one between Israelis and Palestinians. Avoiding reliance solely on
sources that confirm existing beliefs is also essential in countering confirmation bias and
selective exposure (Travers, 2023). It is still, however, important to understand that the
creation in algorithms isnt always made so with malicious intent, but often a way for
information to keep relevant to the user, making a broader course of action towards
echo-chambers harder to carry out (Centola, 2020).
Throughout my research, I concentrated on sources that analyzed the psychological
behavior of individuals and the impact of this behavior on them. This approach allowed me to
thoroughly examine and justify behaviors. Additionally, I specifically focused on scholarly
reports related to the algorithm, which provided relevant and reliable insights into the topic.
Finally, I utilized political newspapers and scientific articles to establish facts and understand
various scholarly opinions on the topic, thus gaining different perspectives.
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