Chapter 16. The Internet as Social Amplifier

Infographic

Infographic Activity
by David Myers and Nathan DeWall
true
true

Thinking Critically About: The Internet as Social Amplifier

Within the internet’s echo chamber of the like-minded, views become more extreme. Sometimes that phenomenon can work for good, sometimes for bad. (This infographic is from Psychology, 5th Edition, Chapter 11.)

Quiz

Quiz

Question 16.1

UxPA0KuorMBNaIPSv/7EqgsbH3MHZuG2Tn3cXz6E2FfrdCAPIq4KOFIkFVEtK2Q5gecXRV8gEuIpByYjm1FvZFg+y8xQeXeUR/v4PA==
Digital discussions tend to isolate like-minded people. This selective exposure to those with similar views and biases prompts existing attitudes to intensify.

Question 16.2

4bNgEft/eJPsh8HBtGiW2YHi7zExlC/RG+9yNbS5RspqHcUxqDwrpmbw9R7rR/bl40dg5oLVpo4TQDPqQkEVgQc88N1Yzfc827Fvg858HpowlHuE+eirJDf4lIxaZ8rw9DiO3WgkNVvtDF6wMA2R7hQfffk63ZRWSfuRs1fc77tmKzX64Su8VKn3IDW4GUbTDcNFqrTY+2sVM8ppyZFl6g==
On the internet, like minds can congregate via social media and through selective exposure to kindred-spirited views—echoing each others’ ideas and attitudes. That can work for either good (as when people find support for coping with health challenges or want to gather for a good cause) or ill (as when people find reinforcement for their hatreds).