huge platforms have the tendency to bring out the worst because of their size. There's no way for someone who's fairly normal with fairly normal interests to stand out amidst a bunch of other people with fairly normal interests.
What grabs people's attention are stunts- vitriolic rage, expressing extremist views, and other extreme behaviors. So sites become millions engaging in further and further behavior for attention.
What I'm saying is that if I see another post elevating fictional women on International Women's Day- I will start biting people
Points of note:
-Facebook is deliberately designed to keep users on it -> in front of ads
-Outrage and disgust are really, really good at driving "engagement"
-64% of all users who joined extremist/conspiracy groups did so after facebook recommended them
So this is witness testimony about the whole Facebook and the 2016 elections kerfluffle.
Psych Major. Weaver. Embroiderer. Cat-Lover. Amateur video game player. Biromantic Ace. She/Her