33 Problems with Social Media

Filter bubbles

Highly-personalized content feeds result in a lack of exposure to viewpoints that are outside a user's existing worldview [Are algorithms used on the internet to selectively guess what information a user would like to see based on pervious information that one likes or follows, restricts your connection with other sources]

Tabloidization

Enhanced focus on entertainment and the lives of celeberties, and more superficial coverage of current events

Clickbait

A framing method that uses exaggerated language and omitted information to entice readers to click though or watch

Surveillance Capitalism

the capture and monetization of personal data

Churnalism

When media outlets publish press releases and other forms of prepackaged content, instead of original reporting

Algorithmic Radicalization

The hypothesis that recommendation engines can steer users towards increasingly extreme content on social platforms [making sure the user stays interested, uses people you follow and doesn't use controversial topics (tiktok FYP)]

Slacktivism

Publicity supporting political or social causes through low effort social media updates or online petitions [Action of supporting certain politics/issues on social media without actually helping the cause ( just reposting a picture/post and not volunteering or donating)]

Paywalls

A mechanism that prevents users from accessing specific content without a paid subscription

News Deserts

Communities that are no longer served by dedicated local news media

Media Consolidation

Formerly independent outlets being bought up by larger media corporations, creating the illusion of choice

Social Bots

Autonomous or human run accounts on social media platforms that manipulate discussions and boost specific messages

Ad Clutter

When the usability of a news website is impacted by pop-ups, auto-play videos, and intrusive banner ads

Astroturfing

Publishing content that creates the illusion of grassroots interest in a policy or individual

deplatforming

when individuals and communities are banned from social and publishing platforms

Context Stripping

as stories are shared over social media channels, the most compelling, intuitive framing wins out. this digital "natural selection" strips layers of context away, warping how stories are perceived.

No Fly Zone

A form of implicit bias that sees topics or subjects excluded from critical coverage due to advertiser relationships

Infotainment

"News" that is optimized to hook viewers in by prioritizing entertainment value over factual reporting

Horse Race Journalism

A form of political coverage the emphasizes polling and the likelihood of victory over topics that are in public interest

Fake News/ Disinformation

deliberately disseminating untrue information or publishing fake news

Good Vs Evil

A form of oversimplification that fits people into villian-victim-hero frameworks, or frames complex conflicts as good vs evil

Rumor Cascades

When a single social media post begins to spread in unbroken chains across a platform. This distribution pattern enables the viral spread of unvetted information.

Hit-and-Run Coverage

When news outlits publish a breaking story, and subsequently fail to follow up with additional facts, nuanced analysis, or broader context

Dogpiling

a high volume of messages and/or targeted harassment for an infraction or opinion that the group does not agree with

Implied Truth Effect

attaching warning to specific pieces of content increases perceived accuracy of content without warnings.

The Overton Window

Issues outside of a narrow window of "acceptable" mainstream discourse tend to not be discussed

Explicit Bias

When the attitudes and beliefs of publishers overly dictate what stories are covered and how those stories are framed

Argument Culture

defaulting to an adversarial approach when encountering people with an opposing worldview

Deviancy Amplification Spiral

A phenomenon defined by increasing reports of violen or antisocial behavior which grows into a moral panic

Sensationalism

The Intentional use of provocative framing and exaggeration to attract more attention to stories

Narrative Fallacy

The tendency to take sequences of facts and infuse them with cause and effect explanations

false balance / bothsidesism

presenting two sides of an issue as if they are equally weighted when there is not corresponding proof to support both sides equally

Agenda Setting

A form of structural bias that sees mass media and influencers direct public discourse by placing importance on select topics

Cherrypicking

Carefully picked evidence that supports one side, while ignoring contradicting evidence.