Opinions, Polarization and other Monsters

Do echo chambers exist on social media? By focusing on how both Italian and US Facebook users relate to two distinct narratives (involving conspiracy theories and science), we offer quantitative evidence that they do. The explanation involves users’ tendency to promote their favored stories and hence to form polarized groups. Confirmation bias helps to account for users’ decisions about whether to spread content, thus creating informational cascades within identifiable communities. At the same time, aggregation of favored information within those communities reinforces selective exposure and group polarization. We provide empirical evidence that users tend to assimilate only confirming claims and ignore apparent refutations because they focus on their preferred narratives.

When / Wann: March 25, 2024, 16:15 - 17:15

Where / Wo: University of Zurich Campus Irchel, Room Y15-G-19

Language / Sprache:  English

Registration / Anmeldung: Link

Weitere Infos / More information: Link

Organisation: DSI Community Democracy & Prof. Dr. Alexandre Bovet

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