How social media hijacks our political perception | Luna Fast & Helin Turhan | TEDxBerlin

Social Media & Political Polarization - Social media algorithms prioritize engagement over truth, rewarding outrageous content and contributing to the spread of misinformation [5][6] - By 2026, Europol predicts that 90% of online content may be synthetically generated using AI, exacerbating the spread of sensationalism and misinformation [6] - Echo chamber effect on social media reinforces existing beliefs by continuously feeding users similar content, trapping them in ideological bubbles [7][8] - Misinformation and conspiracy theories propagated online can fuel real-world aggression and threaten democracy, as exemplified by the January 6th attack on the US Capitol [9][10] - Governments may utilize social media to control dissenting voices and manipulate narratives, even in seemingly democratic countries [11] - Governmental powers can manipulate social media to their own advantage, building up their own narrative and neglecting other views, ultimately resulting in polarizing opinions and misinformation [12][13] - Far-right parties leverage social media to market their ideological perspectives, gaining support, especially amongst young voters [14] Solutions & Countermeasures - Countries should adopt media literacy programs to teach students to critically analyze news sources, recognize bias, and identify misinformation [16] - Individuals should take responsibility for verifying information and seek a range of perspectives from reputable sources to break free from ideological bubbles [16][17] - Lateral reading, or checking multiple reputable sources, should become a habit in digital consumption to combat misinformation [17] - Collective efforts are needed to demand accountability, prioritize education, and foster critical thinking to rebuild public discourse grounded in truth [18]