Friday, Dec 6, 2024
Vint Cerf is one of my science and technology (maybe even outside technology) heroes. I’m fascinated by his talks. This one is from May 2020, in England, more precisely at the Royal Institution, and it emphasized, among other things, this:
Social Media and Polarization
Social media fosters polarization through reward mechanisms:
These reward systems can amplify extreme behaviors, trolling, and divisive content. In the U.S., for example, political polarization has mirrored sports team rivalries, where individuals align with one "team" and view the opposing side as enemies. This tribal behavior is deeply ingrained in human psychology, likely a survival mechanism from our evolutionary past.
The online environment magnifies these tendencies. Addressing this requires critical thinking and self-awareness to recognize and counteract these patterns.
by vint cerf