I don't disagree, but with the advent of social media, it is clear that these entrenched positions will only become more entrenched. The whistle blower revelations about Facebook do not surprise me one bit. This isn't the first flag thrown on the field about social media companies and what is good for them vs good for people.
Before this whistleblower there were already major concerns about whether or not we should write software that is intentionally addictive. We (me being in software) intentionally make a product who's goal is to keep people using it (addition). The more they use....the more money we make. It is a terrible problem for which there is NO solution - other than getting counseling to understand and realize one's addictions and to actively try and stop.
This forum is built on Xenforo - it has features intended to addict its users.
The latest whistle blower claims that Facebook would show more and more violent material to people who read violent material. It keeps them on (addicted). But it also fans violence. Good for society? Probably not.
The same for anti vax or pro vax - or you name it. You show you are going to read a particular topic - FB will feed you more of it......(which in one's mind is translated to.....there is LOTS of stuff supporting this). It feeds confirmation bias.
So yes, I do believe social media has a lot of blame in fanning the polarization of people's perspectives.
Now....go look at how many likes you have....and how many posts....and who's replied to your posts.....and STAY HERE.....We love you and profit from you being here (oh wait....no we don't....but we COULD.....
That said, we love seeing that this forum flourishes....but what do we do about fanning the flames of confirmation bias? This is why we've not wanted to silence this thread. We have nothing to gain from the outcome. But if it counters the endless support of confirmation bias one tiny bit....why not. Some would say - don't bother - I prefer a good debate. And I love one of the things that
@Evil Sports posted - something like -" if we all would type like we were talking to the person in front of us - this discussion would be more civil". I've actually walked away from posting in this thread for days at a time - but I'm drawn back when it gets back into interesting topics.
Sorry for the lengthy spew LOL.....