Confirmation Bias and Stubborn People: Social Media Engineering

Part Two

(I forgot about this draft)

If you have not read the previous article, please do so for better context. It is a riveting read!

If you are a TLDR person, I will summarise the very engaging blog entry (that you should read) as follows.

Confirmation bias is a bias where people look for evidence to support their existing beliefs. In essence, people with this bias will seek or interpret information to match their opinions and thoughts, even when it seems there is no true correlation.

In that article, I talked about evangelical Christians who attribute everything to their faith and prayers. Even when presented with contrary evidence, most religious people (not just evangelicals) will choose belief perseverance.

For some, the faith is deeply entrenched or even genuine. However, even when there is doubt about the doctrine, a lot of people choose to hold on to the faith because it is part of their identity.

Moreover, wavering from that persistent belief could mean the loss of community, including trusted family and friends. Therefore, it is common to see people holding on more and even becoming extremists if they feel their faith is shaken.

Of course, this does not justify bad behaviour, but I think it provides a little insight.

As always, let it be noted that these are my opinions, and I do not aim to bash anyone’s faith or other kinds of identities and beliefs. My articles and stories are based on personal thoughts, experiences, and journeys.

Social Media

In this article, I will share my thoughts about confirmation bias and algorithmic editing, especially concerning social media. Social media is an important place in discussing and verifying beliefs, thoughts and opinions, even more than peer-reviewed scientific articles.  

In the past, we used to have to think.

Thanks to the availability of almost all information from online sources, we do not have to anymore.

Of course, I am talking to people who are as ancient as myself and grew up in a remote place. I am a delulu 22-year-old fairy forever in my heart. ;-)

When I was younger, we would spend a long time arguing about countless subjects with my family (as a loud lastborn). If we disagreed on an actor in a movie, we would argue for days until the majority won. On educational issues, we had to activate the little grey cells to their maximum capacity.

The last solution was going to the library to look for the appropriate reference because that was just too much work. Some arguments would go on longer than Rachel and Ross and their annoying discussion about ‘The Break’.

But usually, the end of arguments would depend on the majority. In school, we all had to deal with the ‘majority wins’ rule. It is not the best approach for research, but it leaves the people who are on the ‘right’ side smug and satisfied.

The majority side is not only happy that more people agree with them; they can also lord over the minority on how right they are about the pertinent issue with their numbers. Nothing better than being united as winners against losers.

Of course, the losers are not alone, so they also band together silently refusing to accept the verdict and calling the majority 'mainstream, basic, and stupid.

Information Availability

Today, arguments are quick and meaningless.

When my sisters and I disagree on movies, series, or gossip, the process lasts as short as typing the name of the subject. It is good to have the right information at the fingertips, but it has taken away the joy of activating the grey cells.

However, it should be noted that not all arguments are objective. There are facts and opinions, and where there is no true factual answer, the questions will require opinions and subjective input. In other words, the answers are based on emotions or feelings.

In this case, the majority wins rule applies.

For example, if we are arguing about how wrong a reality show star was, we have to put it forward as a debate and determine who has credible points.

In theory, this is simple enough, even though the argument can turn ugly.

Unfortunately, with the availability of information, even subjective information can be found online. And in most cases, the writers will present their opinions, thoughts and beliefs as fact. You would believe they are omniscient.

As a result, their information can turn a subjective issue into an objective argument.

Confirmation Bias in Online Information

When we talk about the algorithm, we focus on social media and its feed. But before we come to that, let us discuss the articles on countless news websites. I will avoid using serious topics as examples because I do not know enough about the world to do so.

Let us keep discussing the entertainment industry.

When you watch a movie or series, you will either love it or hate it. Of course, some are just meh, and you do not care about it because you might have been just passing time. But if you love or hate a movie seriously, there is a probability that you will google it.

A normal first search might involve something like ‘movie name rating’. When you get the Google user rating or Rotten Tomatoes feedback, you will either agree with the information or become shocked by the audacity of people.

Your next search might involve something like ‘movie name reviews’ or ‘movie name bad or good’. As you continue, the search engine will eventually know what you want to hear. I am not a techie, so I am oversimplifying the concept and assuming that your phone is not eavesdropping on your chats, calls and social media interactions.

According to the book The Filter Bubble, the results of your searches will now incorporate your not-so-obvious feelings about the ‘movie name’. So, if you hated the movie, the next time you search ‘movie name’, the results will lean towards your opinions. And vice versa.

You will think that the entire internet agrees with you, and your beliefs will become more entrenched. You will believe you are right because the majority of the people from the search results on articles, blogs and forums agree with you.

Unfortunately, the search engine is merely giving you the information you want to hear after forming an opinion. Hence, the confirmation bias!

This is algorithmic editing.

It is the most dangerous type of majority wins rule because it ensures that everyone becomes smug and satisfied as winners regardless of real facts. If every result on the first page echoes your thoughts, you will walk with arrogance.

But everyone who disagrees with you will also be walking in the same way because the algorithm creates a Filter Bubble, a term coined by Eli P, for everyone to make them believe they are right, or at least their opinions are heavily supported.

In this confirmation bias, everyone is right because they are digitally isolated.

Algorithmic Editing and Confirmation Bias

Confirmation bias in algorithmic editing is something that no one wants to know about. Trust me! I do not even know about it to be writing about it, but I am already angry.

The thing is, every app and website wants you to stay longer on their page and click more links. And they will do anything to make it happen.

It is how money is made.

Believe it or not, you are not only seeing the video clips (for brand safety purposes) that your algorithm gives you. The algorithm also curates your comments. And this is easy to prove. (I mean, that your algorithm is playing you concerning comments.)

If you have a friend or partner who is totally (like for real) different from you, you can check the video comments on different apps. I have no one :'( and all my friends are me on different levels, so I cannot consider this a proven method.

However, you can check the dates and times at which comments were posted. I do not use multiple apps, so I cannot speak for everyone. But you can evaluate the formula that each app uses to determine which comment is most likely to be at the top (unless pinned).

I am talking about the appearance of a video on your page or timeline that makes you think: *sigh* I know the comments. Let me open them and repeat what is in my head.

What am I saying?

Just because something is on your page or feed, and the comments agree, it does not mean that the majority of people agree with you. You are in an isolated place where the algorithm brings you things that you truly want to see.

You might want to say that the comments on the videos you find cute are cruel and ungodly. But you forget about your interactions with other content. Every time you write a negative comment to 'shame' someone, it becomes a point of engagement.

Literally, saying that you hate something means that you care about it enough to engage and bring traffic. If you do not care and would like to avoid it, the best way would be to click 'not interested' or 'show me less'.

Sooooooo.....

Do not be led by yourself!

(And the algorithm).

Most of the people you see are you in different video game skins! You should try seeing things from the side that validates you as well as the one that disagrees with you before saying 'Heal, Who hurt you, Blocked etc.). It will not turn you into what you hate.

It is just a way to open your mind and avoid the filter bubble.

Finally!

Remember to:

Google 'filter bubble'

Remember that web searching does track your patterns and will tell you what you want to hear.

Talk to a few people who humble you like family and besties

Read and watch to the end

Read or watch before commenting based on other people's comments.

Understand that you are on only one side of social media: all the hate and love or other emotions are on another algorithm.

Be yourself because people will hate you either way. (Like, for real.)