Question
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.
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 create cliques online primarily by connecting users with people who have similar opinions. The algorithms that govern platforms like Facebook and Twitter tend to prioritize content from friends or accounts that share similar interests, beliefs, and values. This results in users primarily interacting with like-minded individuals, reinforcing their preexisting views and creating echo chambers.
While social networks do have the potential to connect users with people they don't know and expose them to different views and new ideas, the design and functionality often lead to the formation of insular groups. Users are more likely to engage with content that aligns with their beliefs, which in turn reinforces the visibility of that type of content in their feeds.
Therefore, while social networks can theoretically foster diverse interactions, they often operate in a way that encourages users to connect with those who reflect their existing social circles and perspectives, thereby creating online cliques.
While social networks do have the potential to connect users with people they don't know and expose them to different views and new ideas, the design and functionality often lead to the formation of insular groups. Users are more likely to engage with content that aligns with their beliefs, which in turn reinforces the visibility of that type of content in their feeds.
Therefore, while social networks can theoretically foster diverse interactions, they often operate in a way that encourages users to connect with those who reflect their existing social circles and perspectives, thereby creating online cliques.
There are no human answers yet. A form for humans to post answers is coming very soon!