Ahimsa in the Echo Chamber: How We're Hurting Ourselves on Social Media
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Ahimsa in the Echo Chamber: How We're Hurting Ourselves on Social Media

Ahimsa in the Echo Chamber: How We’re Hurting Ourselves on Social Media

by Jordan Rosin, published November 12, 2016

The Echo Chamber
Many people are still unaware that certain social media sites, like Facebook use a complicated computer algorithm to control what appears in your news feed or home page. Basically, you see more of what you’re expected to like and less of what you aren’t. This is designed to encourage you to engage with and continue spending time on their platform and has obvious advantages for them. The more time you spend on their site or app, the more impressions their advertiser’s ads get and the more money the company makes. However, one of the most interesting and unanticipated effects these algorithms have had is what some are calling the “echo chamber.”
Less of What You Disagree With and More of What You Like
Whereas people originally thought that social media might expose us to a greater diversity of opinions and viewpoints, Facebook’s algorithm is such that you actually see less of what you disagree with and more of what you’re already inclined to like. That means that if you’re a liberal and your friend is a conservative, and your conservative friend posts something political, you are less likely to even see it since your history of engagement with liberal content will encourage Facebook to filter your friend’s post out from your News Feed, where you would most likely otherwise see it. Joining like-minded “groups” or participating in group message threads can only intensify this echo chamber effect since we not only have access, but are actively notified when people contribute to those environments, increasing our feeling of obligation to view and engage with that content.
So what does this have to do with ahimsa (the yogic practice of non-violence towards self & others)?  It turns out that by participating and unconsciously putting stock in the echo chamber of social media, we are actually doing ourselves harm.
The polarization which has caused and resulted from some of the greatest surprises in the recent US Presidential election is the direct result of this echo chamber effect. Essentially, these echo chambers have diminished our opportunities to practice peaceful and effective disagreement and debate by surrounding us in the opinions with which we already resonate. They have also diminished the scope of our awareness to pre-expressed interests such that what concerns Middle America never crosses the News Feeds of the Coasts and vice versa.
Ultimately, this polarization has hurt many people’s feelings, friendships, and self-esteem. In the wake of an already polarizing election, it has become all too easy to speak and not listen, to categorize certain friends as enemies based on a single shallow denominator, and to allow ourselves to be manipulated by the mob mentality of our friend group. Hate speech is on the rise, not just amongst our enemies but among our friends!
So what do we do?
  • Get mindful! Like many of the fluctuations of the mind which the art of yoga aims to still, the key to overcoming   the radicalizing power of these echo chambers is first and foremost simply becoming aware of them.
  • Participate! The next step is to mindfully make decisions about where and how you participate in political discussion. Cultivate your opinions amidst friends, but don’t let that be enough. Peacefully and respectfully participate in real-life dialogue and debate with people who do not share your views! This way they (but also you), can be expanded in their/your perception of the world around us. (The echo chamber narrows this perception.)
  • Diversify! Diversify your expression. Is Facebook the only place you express your views about political or social issues? Is Twitter your go-to venting-machine? It’s time to branch out. Write letters to your legislature! Sign real-life petitions! E-mail those estranged family members with views contrary to yours, not with a tone of blame and accusation, but with a sincere desire to speak and listen.
Discussion Question
What else do you do to combat the effect of the “echo chamber” and participate meaningfully in debate about issues for which you care?  Join the discussion and leave your answer in the comments below.
Photo by Jason Howie on flickr