Between coconut trees and transgender aliens, political internet culture has been a rollercoaster this election. As we get closer to the ballot, I find it important to reflect on the memes and threads we subscribe to; as they may have more of an effect than you may think.
One of the first things discussed in AP Government is the role of the citizen. When Mr. Gordon introduced the topic, our class had to explore the complexities of being an educated citizen, touching on social media and its effects.
I want to ask you: What political views are reflected on your feeds? Is it overtly one side or a mix of both? How often does the media demonize the other side through jokes or differing “hot takes”?
Even though the memes and commentary may seem lighthearted, what you usually see is the most sensational take. As journalist Max Fisher touches on in his recently published book, The Chaos Machine, many 2000s social media companies saw a switch in how they wanted to meet viewer margins. Fisher talks about YouTube back in 2016 applying new algorithms ensuring the most entertaining, emotional and popular videos gain the most opportunities to be viewed.
The one caveat within the system; there is no regulation on the spread of harmful information. In short, one’s feed supplies the most emotionally charged and stimulating media in the context of that one person’s opinions. For example, if you have a die-hard liberal they are getting fed media designed to leave them outraged, and vice versa for conservatives. The effect leads to an even stronger polarization through politics.
As you catch yourself scrolling, take a second and reflect on the type of media you are consuming and the effect it has on your opinions this election cycle.