Social Media’s Funhouse Mirror: Distorting Reality, One Scroll at a Time

If social media reflects reality, why does it feel more like a circus of extremes?

Social media distorts our perception of reality by amplifying extreme voices while muting the silent majority. A mere 3% of accounts produce 33% of content, with 0.1% responsible for 80% of fake news.

Algorithms prioritize polarizing, emotional content, creating a skewed sense of social norms. This "funhouse mirror" effect fuels political divides, reinforces unrealistic beauty standards, and normalizes risky behaviors like binge drinking. It is time for change.

• Algorithms amplify engagement, not truth.
• Extreme minority shapes online "norms."
• Distorted norms harm mental health.

To untangle reality from social media’s illusions, how should we encourage platforms to prioritize nuance over noise?

Read the full article on The Social Identity & Morality Lab.

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