Question
Anti-Social Networks? We're Just As Cliquey Online
Laura Sydell
2011
Social networks such as Facebook and Twitter are helping people keep in touch with friends and family. But just how social are those networks? Are Internet communities simply “real-world” cliques moved online?
Dwayne Aikens uses Facebook to stay in touch with people he already knows — friends and family who, for the most part, share his political views. Aikens lives in Oakland, Calif., and runs a nonprofit that focuses on health and fitness.
“A lot of my friends are Democrats and liberals,” Aikens says — and his Facebook newsfeed reflects that. He doesn’t see many posts from conservatives, he admits.
Facebook’s software may be reinforcing his tendency to only see links from people he agrees with. When Facebook displays your “Top News,” it’s guessing what you’re interested in seeing based on how often you have clicked on a particular friend’s entries in the past.
Most people don’t click on posts that they disagree with, explains Dean Eckles, a Stanford Ph.D. candidate studying social networks. And if you don’t interact with content — meaning you don’t click on it or comment on it — services like Facebook have no way of knowing that you are still interested in seeing it, Eckles says.
Facebook and Twitter can act as echo chambers where you interact primarily with others who have similar interests and politics. But both services can also connect you with people you don’t know — fans of the same sport, movie or TV show.
How do social networks create cliques online?
They connect you with people who have similar opinions.
They connect you with people you already know and like.
They expose you to people with different views and new ideas.
They encourage you to block people you don't know or like.
Laura Sydell
2011
Social networks such as Facebook and Twitter are helping people keep in touch with friends and family. But just how social are those networks? Are Internet communities simply “real-world” cliques moved online?
Dwayne Aikens uses Facebook to stay in touch with people he already knows — friends and family who, for the most part, share his political views. Aikens lives in Oakland, Calif., and runs a nonprofit that focuses on health and fitness.
“A lot of my friends are Democrats and liberals,” Aikens says — and his Facebook newsfeed reflects that. He doesn’t see many posts from conservatives, he admits.
Facebook’s software may be reinforcing his tendency to only see links from people he agrees with. When Facebook displays your “Top News,” it’s guessing what you’re interested in seeing based on how often you have clicked on a particular friend’s entries in the past.
Most people don’t click on posts that they disagree with, explains Dean Eckles, a Stanford Ph.D. candidate studying social networks. And if you don’t interact with content — meaning you don’t click on it or comment on it — services like Facebook have no way of knowing that you are still interested in seeing it, Eckles says.
Facebook and Twitter can act as echo chambers where you interact primarily with others who have similar interests and politics. But both services can also connect you with people you don’t know — fans of the same sport, movie or TV show.
How do social networks create cliques online?
They connect you with people who have similar opinions.
They connect you with people you already know and like.
They expose you to people with different views and new ideas.
They encourage you to block people you don't know or like.
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
Social networks like Facebook and Twitter do have a tendency to create cliques and reinforce existing social dynamics, much like traditional social groups in the real world. Here’s how they facilitate these online cliques:
1. **Connecting Like-Minded Individuals**: Social networks often connect users with others who share similar opinions, beliefs, and interests. This is evident in the case of Dwayne Aikens, who primarily engages with friends and family who share his political views, leading to a homogenized newsfeed that reflects those views.
2. **Prioritizing Familiar Connections**: These platforms primarily connect users with people they already know and like, which further narrows their exposure to diverse viewpoints and experiences. Users tend to follow friends and family members rather than seeking out new connections, creating a closed loop of interactions.
3. **Filter Bubbles**: Algorithms on social media platforms often curate content based on users’ previous interactions. As Dean Eckles indicates, if users don't engage with posts that don’t align with their views, those posts are progressively filtered out, reinforcing the echo chamber effect.
4. **Blocking and Unfollowing**: Users have the option to block or unfollow people they don’t agree with or don’t know, which can lead to even more isolation from differing perspectives. This selective curation contributes to a lack of exposure to diverse ideas.
While social networks do have the potential to expose users to a broader range of perspectives, the tendencies outlined above indicate that they often cater to the creation of cliques that mirror users' existing real-world social structures.
1. **Connecting Like-Minded Individuals**: Social networks often connect users with others who share similar opinions, beliefs, and interests. This is evident in the case of Dwayne Aikens, who primarily engages with friends and family who share his political views, leading to a homogenized newsfeed that reflects those views.
2. **Prioritizing Familiar Connections**: These platforms primarily connect users with people they already know and like, which further narrows their exposure to diverse viewpoints and experiences. Users tend to follow friends and family members rather than seeking out new connections, creating a closed loop of interactions.
3. **Filter Bubbles**: Algorithms on social media platforms often curate content based on users’ previous interactions. As Dean Eckles indicates, if users don't engage with posts that don’t align with their views, those posts are progressively filtered out, reinforcing the echo chamber effect.
4. **Blocking and Unfollowing**: Users have the option to block or unfollow people they don’t agree with or don’t know, which can lead to even more isolation from differing perspectives. This selective curation contributes to a lack of exposure to diverse ideas.
While social networks do have the potential to expose users to a broader range of perspectives, the tendencies outlined above indicate that they often cater to the creation of cliques that mirror users' existing real-world social structures.
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