EOTO #2: Echo Chamber

The term echo chamber refers to the environment where someone encounters here opinions from others, only to reflect or reinforce their own. Echo chambers can exist anywhere, whether in person or online, as long as there is an exchange of information. Because we live in a digital age, echo chambers have become increasingly more common online, predominantly social media. There are several platforms that people can easily converse and exchange opinions on. Some of these sites may include, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. On these platforms, people have the opportunity to form digital communities, forging connections with people near or far. While a constant flow of communication can be seen as a positive thing, there is a downside. 

Echo chambers are not positive environments to exist in as they cause many issues. The first of these issues is the staticity of thought that flows from them. When confronted numerous times with your own opinions and beliefs, it is very easy to forget that there are other views. If a person is to exist in a constant state of the same idea being presented time and time again, it becomes hard to see other perspectives. This can become a lasting issue as it can exist for a prolonged period of time. While I consider myself to be someone who likes to see the big picture rather than just a piece of it, I am aware of my position on certain matters both politically and socially. I am also aware that opinions are not always facts which is a key factor in how many people fall into echo chambers. When an echo chamber exists on social media, it is called a filter bubble. Filter bubbles are created by algorithms on social media which keep track of all of the interests that a person has, forcing them to see the same things time and time again. This is something that I have also seen in my daily life scrolling on social media. For example, if I were to be doing some online shopping for black boots at one point during the day, I would more than likely see an ad for black boots on Facebook on that same day. This is also seemingly an invasion of privacy. Invasions of privacy online are continuous issues that are a threat to the way that we as a society exist. 

Another issue that comes with echo chambers is the lack of opposing viewpoints and stable information. Because people are being confronted by likened opinions rather than facts, echo chambers can cause a spread of misinformation. The lack of opposing viewpoints can lead to an almost narcissistic perspective. Both of these problems can lead to a damaging societal outlook. If everyone were to believe that their opinions were not only facts but the only opinions in existence, there would be complete and total chaos. While people are allowed to and should have opinions, it is important to know the difference between them and facts. It is sad to see that this may be where we are headed. In light of the events that have occurred during the past two political elections, it is evident that echo chambers are present in our society. What is even more frightening is that they can affect anyone. As I have previously stated, we live in a digital age. As years go by, it is hard to find anyone that is not in some way engaged in social media or just online in general. People of all backgrounds, whether they are a part of the majority or minority, different sexualities, ages, and class ranks are included in this large issue at hand. My generation, specifically, is enraptured by social media having grown up with its existence making filter bubbles nearly inescapable. Because of this, echo chambers can be seen as traps we can all easily fall into anywhere. The spread of misinformation can lead to harmful ideas and stereotypes becoming believed and eventually normalized.

 Because of this, it is important to always utilize multiple sources of information on not only large events but also everyday news. By accessing different sources, we gain an image of the bigger picture. To be more specific, awareness of this issue is the leading way to prevent it from being prolonged. If everyone were aware of the traps that they fall into, echo chambers would be less of a concerning problem we face as a society.