Diversity in Social Media

Why social media can actually decrease diversity

From a larger perspective, one would assume that social media allows us to interact with more people and ultimately to become more diverse. However, according to some studies, this is actually the opposite. Many social media sites such as Twitter, use personalization algorithms to provide you with recommended accounts. If you only follow a certain view point for example, then Twitter will only recommend you follow that certain view point from other accounts. Twitter also allows you to block certain hashtags or phrases. That way, you will never see that phrase in your newsfeed no matter who you follow. This can be useful in some cases but harmful in others. If we only follow viewpoints that are like our own, then we will not be exposed to beliefs unlike ours, therefore creating a "bubble" that keeps out diversity. Personally, I identify as a conservative but I get the majority of my news from CNN, which tends to lean more left. I choose not to follow Fox News because I do not want to be biased and I want to see others' viewpoints. 

Another part of social media that decreases our diversity is the choice to remove and block people who don't agree with you. While sometimes this may be necessary if their posts are intentionally hurtful or immature, for the most part these people have their beliefs for a reason, just like you and I. I remember a few years ago when I posted an article on Facebook that was controversial at the time (and still is). I ended up having 50+ comments from a variety of people both those who agreed and those who disagreed with me. I debated about deleting the post because of how much heat it got but I ended up deciding to leave it. This post had lots of statistics and research-based facts, it was not only opinion. These kinds of debates are professional and allow us to see others perspectives. Although a few people ended up unfriending me (they did not comment on the post at all, just saw that I had shared it and immediately deleted me because of it), I ended up friending my cousin's friend and I still have her on my Facebook so I am able to experience in more diversity.

Ultimately, social media can either increase our diversity or decrease it. But we get to make that decision. Limit yourself to people who only think like you or broaden your horizons and explore the multitude of belief systems that exist.