Social Media Algorithms and Selective Exposure

Research shows that algorithms on social media can reinforce selective exposure, meaning the more we interact with certain types of content, the less likely we are to encounter alternative perspectives or emotional tones (Cinelli et al., 2021).

In other words, what we click on doesn't just reflect what we’re interested in—it shapes what we become interested in. If we aren’t mindful, our digital lives—and by extension, our emotional lives—can become an echo chamber of fear, anger, or despair without us even realizing it.