The Endless-Cycle of Social Media | Kaitlyn Don | TEDxLAHS

Summary

Caitlin, a high school sophomore and founder of an Ethics and Social Media club, shares her journey from gullibility to critical thinking, spurred by a debate on animal experimentation. She highlights the challenge of discerning reliable information in the digital age, citing a Stanford study and the deceptive nature of some websites. Caitlin discusses the impact of algorithm-driven filter bubbles on social media, particularly TikTok, and the broader implications for society. She emphasizes the importance of understanding multiple perspectives, cross-checking evidence, and taking proactive steps to form well-informed opinions to combat misinformation and polarization.

Takeaways

• 😀 Caitlin is a high school sophomore who started an Ethics and Social Media Club.
• 🔍 She admits to being gullible and having an innocent view of reality, which was challenged by her first debate topic on animal experimentation.
• 🧐 Caitlin's first awakening to the difference between reliable and unreliable information came during a debate class when she found her key evidence was from a Star Trek fandom website.
• 📊 The Stanford History Education Research Group found that about 67% of Americans still get confused by fake news, highlighting the difficulty in discerning credible sources.
• 🎓 Even highly educated students struggle with determining the credibility of websites, as shown by a study where only 6% of college students and 9% of high school students correctly assessed minimumwage.com.
• 🌐 The script discusses the concept of reinforcement bubbles or filter bubbles, which are intellectual isolations created by algorithms that selectively assume information about users and provide content accordingly.
• 📈 Social media platforms, like TikTok, use sophisticated algorithms to personalize content, which can lead to users becoming addicted and trapped in their own interests.
• 🏢 The TikTok algorithm was created by a Chinese company called ByteDance, which is now selling its AI technology to other businesses, competing with tech giants like IBM, AWS, Microsoft, and Google.
• 🌍 Personalized algorithms affect our world by curating content to our tastes, which can lead to radical extremism and political division due to the reinforcement of existing beliefs.
• 🤔 Caitlin suggests that to combat this, we should understand all sides of an issue, research thoroughly, engage in conversations, and cross-check evidence to form informed opinions.
• 💪 She emphasizes the importance of being proactive in seeking out information and breaking out of reinforcement bubbles to make informed decisions and change the world.

Q & A

Who is Caitlin and what is her current educational status?

Caitlin is a high school sophomore who has started an Ethics and Social Media Club at her school.

What was Caitlin's first debate topic and how did it lead to her first awakening about information reliability?

Caitlin's first debate topic was animal experimentation. Her first awakening about the difference between reliable and unreliable information came when she found an article from a 'Star Trek' fandom website, which she initially thought was a key piece of evidence for her debate.

According to Caitlin, what percentage of Americans get confused by fake news?

Caitlin mentions that about 67% of all Americans still get confused by fake news, as per a study conducted by the Stanford History Education Research Group.

What was the website that both high school and college students found difficult to assess for credibility?

The website that both high school and college students found difficult to assess for credibility was minimumwage.com.

What is a reinforcement bubble or a filter bubble?

A reinforcement bubble or a filter bubble is the intellectual isolation that occurs when websites use algorithms to selectively assume information about its users and then provide information back to the users according to these assumptions.

How does the TikTok algorithm work to keep users engaged?

The TikTok algorithm takes into account which posts users like, comment on, and share, the hashtags and descriptions in comments, as well as the 'not interested' feedback from users. Most importantly, it considers the number of seconds users spend watching each video to personalize content and keep users addicted.

Which Chinese company created the TikTok algorithm and what is its new division called?

The TikTok algorithm was created by a Chinese company called ByteDance. Their new division is called Byte Plus, which focuses on altering the algorithm to better fit other companies' needs and selling this AI power technology to businesses outside of China.

What is the role of recommender systems in news websites like BBC and CBC?

Recommender systems in news websites like BBC and CBC are used to provide content that will engage users the most, pushing them further into their filter bubbles by giving them information that they would like to see.

Why are reinforcement bubbles created by news websites considered alarming according to Caitlin?

Reinforcement bubbles created by news websites are considered alarming because they can create radical extremists who are not willing to change their opinion, leading to people becoming more blind to the realities of the world and contributing to tense political divisions.

What solution does Caitlin propose to deal with the issue of reinforcement bubbles and fake news?

Caitlin proposes that people should seek a deeper understanding of each issue by researching both sides of an argument, starting with trusted sources. She also emphasizes the importance of having conversations about different issues and cross-checking evidence to ensure it is not false information.

What is the key message Caitlin wants to convey in her speech?

Caitlin's key message is the importance of seeking out one's own evidence and making informed opinions instead of blindly believing anything we read. She encourages people to be proactive in seeking information and to pop the reinforcement bubbles they have been placed in.