Another Social Media Theory Gets Blown Up

[volinbham]

Well, the evidence suggests the "radicalization rabbit hole" theory doesn't match the data

YouTube Algorithms Don't Turn Unsuspecting Masses Into Extremists, New Study Suggests

 

[McDad]

Well, the evidence suggests the "radicalization rabbit hole" theory doesn't match the data

YouTube Algorithms Don't Turn Unsuspecting Masses Into Extremists, New Study Suggests

heresy!!

Don't listen to this man. He's a witch. Burn him (after we weigh him against a duck)

 

[volinbham]

heresy!!

Don't listen to this man. He's a witch. Burn him (after we weigh him against a duck)

still a newt? I figured you would have got better by now

 

[McDad]

This is an incredible observation (from article):
Less than 1 percent—0.6, to be exact—of those studied by the researchers were responsible for an astonishing 80 percent of the watch time for channels deemed extremist. And only 1.7 percent of participants studied were responsible for 79 percent of the watch time for channels deemed alternative. These study participants typically found those videos by having watched similar ones previously.

 

[VolStrom]

This is probably only a shock to people like Luther and the other left wing extremists.

 

[NorthDallas40]

This is an incredible observation (from article):
Less than 1 percent—0.6, to be exact—of those studied by the researchers were responsible for an astonishing 80 percent of the watch time for channels deemed extremist. And only 1.7 percent of participants studied were responsible for 79 percent of the watch time for channels deemed alternative. These study participants typically found those videos by having watched similar ones previously.

It almost reads like the only people being radicalized are the ones actively trying to radicalize themselves. Nah that’s crazy talk and way too obvious.

 

[Velo Vol]

How did people get the extreme views?

 

[NorthDallas40]

How did people get the extreme views?

View attachment 450864

You really want somebody to answer YouTube don’t you?

 

[McDad]

It almost reads like the only people being radicalized are the ones actively trying to radicalize themselves. Nah that’s crazy talk and way too obvious.

Precisely one of the other observations. People who already held extremist views sought out the content. They didn't stumble on it and become extremists.

 

[McDad]

How did people get the extreme views?

View attachment 450864

Fear, anger, despair, and hopelessness.

 

[Velo Vol]

Fear, anger, despair, and hopelessness.

Almost everyone experiences these, but most don't become extremists. Were the ones that do predestined? Genetics?

 

[McDad]

Almost everyone experiences these, but most don't become extremists. Were the ones that do predestined? Genetics?

That's a good question. I have no idea. The same set of circumstances can hit two different people differently.

I wish there were an easy answer or common denominator which caused extremists.

 

[McDad]

Almost everyone experiences these, but most don't become extremists. Were the ones that do predestined? Genetics?

I will add this: I was thinking about the worst depths of those conditions i listed when I replied.

 

[Wireless1]

I'm too lazy to read the article, what's the numbers for porn? I'm betting that algorithm was much more effective.

 

[C-south]

YouTube tricked me into buying a couple more guns and a new driver.

 

[Gandalf]

I'm too lazy to read the article, what's the numbers for porn? I'm betting that algorithm was much more effective.

And much more interesting to research!

 

[AM64]

Precisely one of the other observations. People who already held extremist views sought out the content. They didn't stumble on it and become extremists.

It's likely that people seek "information" that supports their beliefs to reaffirm their views, and that looks like what the researchers just supported with their numbers.

 

[05_never_again]

It's likely that people seek "information" that supports their beliefs to reaffirm their views, and that looks like what the researchers just supported with their numbers.

Yep. Conservatives watch Fox News and liberals watch MSNBC on cable TV. There's no algo driving them there.

People seek out information that supports their already-held beliefs (confirmation bias) and the algos enhance that.

 

[Velo Vol]

Yep. Conservatives watch Fox News and liberals watch MSNBC on cable TV. There's no algo driving them there.

People seek out information that supports their already-held beliefs (confirmation bias) and the algos enhance that.

But the algo leads viewer from A ==> B ==> C ==> D which over time can lead to more extreme beliefs. The boiling frog phenomenon.

 

[volinbham]

But the algo leads viewer from A ==> B ==> C ==> D which over time can lead to more extreme beliefs. The boiling frog phenomenon.

that was not found in the study

 

[NorthDallas40]

that was not found in the study

Oh you’ve done it now.

 

[85SugarVol]

But the algo leads viewer from A ==> B ==> C ==> D which over time can lead to more extreme beliefs. The boiling frog phenomenon.

Except that didn’t happen

 

[05_never_again]

But the algo leads viewer from A ==> B ==> C ==> D which over time can lead to more extreme beliefs. The boiling frog phenomenon.

If the person is seeking out those videos to begin with, wouldn't they go from A -> B -> C -> D on their own anyway?

I don't see how a normal, moderate, rational person embarks on a YouTube rabbit hole and at the end of it becomes a terrorist, for example. That person was effed up before they even started watching the extreme content.

 

[Rickyvol77]

How did people get the extreme views?

View attachment 450864

Oh no. Someone said something “extreme”. Clutch pearls

 

[Rickyvol77]

But the algo leads viewer from A ==> B ==> C ==> D which over time can lead to more extreme beliefs. The boiling frog phenomenon.

Lol