SPOTLIGHT ON THE INTERNET:
SWIFT, IMPASSIONED, AND POLARISED
"The Internet is the first thing that humanity has built that humanity doesn't understand, the largest experiment in anarchy that we have ever had."
— Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman of Google (2001 – 2015)
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"Facebook doesn’t just bring together audiences for the news. It shapes the news for audiences, drawn from the choices of their social connections and regurgitated by algorithms to match personal preferences. It is a space designed to envelop users in the cosy embrace of the familiar, not challenge misinformed views or address unsubstantiated rumours."
— Alfred Hermida, Associate Professor, University of British Columbia
Screenshot of comments section on video above, titled
"Good News on Climate Change! We're Safe. We're Adaptable. Six points for Discussion." by Friends of Science.
CYBER GHETTOS
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The Internet provides individuals with a plethora of sites they can choose to source their information on climate change on​.
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This leads to the phenomenon of "selective exposure", in which:
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Individuals narrow their exposure to information that suits their existing beliefs;
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Forming "cyber ghettos", where those of the same viewpoint band together, perpetuating support of their own beliefs and intolerance to others' views
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This effect is exacerbated by algorithms on online media sites which recommend articles that share similarities with users' previously-visited sites, presumed to be in line with the user's preferences
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Thus, climate change deniers are likely to continue being exposed ​to information denying climate change.
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Sources
Above: https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1105445788585467904
Right: https://www.facebook.com/CO2-Coalition-390205147852699/
SPREAD OF MISINFORMATION
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Information can be uploaded online easily, reaching the 3.2 billion Internet users worldwide in a matter of seconds
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Due to the difficulty of regulating what is posted online, misinformation on climate change is often not filtered out.
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Users can easily share misinformation on climate change to their network.​
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