Why Social Media is driving us further apart
Social media has given the world one of the most accessible platforms for individual expression for those who previously had no voice. But often, it is the fringe and extremist voices that are most amplified by these platforms.
Algorithms amplify content which incites strong reactions, giving false weight to fringe views, hate speech and fake news. While this happens, users are pushed further and further into their own personal bubbles where they are served more information that confirms their opinions, reducing our exposure to different points of view.
Malicious actors take advantage of these design features, exploiting our vulnerabilities in order to infiltrate our bubbles, manipulate our world view, stir controversy and get us to come around to their way of thinking.
Instead of bringing us together, social media is tearing us apart. In a recent study, more than 74% of Australians believed that social media was increasing division and polarisation in our society¹.
How and where this is happening
So how do we know that this is a real problem? Below we have collected just a few examples of where foreign interference in Australian democracy has occurred and how the digital platforms are allowing it to happen.
Social media has been used to popularise anti-vaccination discourse
Datasets were collected from six public anti-vaccination Facebook pages across Australia and the US, with it appearing that although anti-vaccination networks on Facebook are large and global in scope, the comment activity sub-networks appear to be ‘small world’. This suggests that social media may have a role in spreading anti-vaccination ideas and making the movement durable on a global scale.
Bot and trolls used to give false weight to a particular viewpoint
During the Australian bushfire crisis QUT social media analyst Timothy Graham studied 300 twitter accounts to identify any inauthentic behaviour driving the #ArsonEmergency hashtag which was used to push a narrative that the cause of the fires was arson. Many of these accounts were found to be behaving ‘suspiciously’, compared to other hashtags trending including #AustraliaFire and #BushfireAustralia.
Conspiracy theories are able to spread rapidly
Disinformation around the Coronavirus is spreading online, with posts including claims of how the virus can be caught, suggestions it was deliberately released as well directing people not to consume certain food or visit particular areas in Australia. The rapid spread of disinformation is forcing Facebook and Google to ramp up efforts and use third-party fact-checkers to remove misleading information.
Bigots have an echo-chamber to disseminate their ideology
Neo-Nazi group Antipodean Resistance used Twitter to post photos of their vandalism, their distribution of swastika posters and violent stickers at universities and in public places across the nation, as well as radicalisation camps in Victoria before Twitter removed them. It was known that members were actively recruited through the web.
Platforms aren’t taking responsibility to prevent harms and reputational damage they cause
Mining magnate Andrew Forrest, former NSW premier Mike Baird and The Project host Waleed Aly were exploited in cryptocurrency scams on Facebook. In an open letter, Forrest called on Zuckerberg to update their regulatory and legislative frameworks to ensure society is protected from the harm Facebook facilitates by allowing scammers to advertise on its platform.
Violent ideologies are become easier to disseminate
A Harvard researcher investigating online radicalisation of mass shooters spoke to the digital footprint of the Christchurch mosque shooter revealing recruitment techniques observed in far-right movements and terrorist organisations. He said that shooter and recruiters in Syria employed social media to inspire lone-wolf attacks using a “media manipulation operation to bait journalists into amplifying hateful propaganda”.
Bots are being used to amplify political messaging and voices
The Liberal Party internally investigated a surge in followers on Tony Abbott's Twitter feed from 157,000 to 198,000 in one day on August 10, 2013. Liberal party spokesperson revealed a spambot had most likely caused the suggest increase, with the new followers tweeting identical posts “The Greens Party new election ad is very ordinary, I’d be hiring a new creative director if I was the Greens. #AusVotes #AusPol #Greens. “Bots without borders: how anonymous accounts hijack political debate” by Katina Michael, The Conversation (Jan 24, 2017)
References
¹ “Social Media and Regulation Attitudes Survey” by Roy Morgan, Responsible Technology Australia (Dec, 2019)
Responsible Technology Australia is advocating for the ethical progression of technology for a safer, fairer, and more democratic Australia. If you’re keen to hear more, get in touch via hello@responsibletechnology.org.au
