elpais.com
Social Media: Unfulfilled Fantasies and the Rise of Online Rage
Sherry Turkle's assertion that mobile devices offer three gratifying fantasies—constant attention, a platform to be heard, and an end to loneliness—is challenged by the reality of unequal attention distribution across social media, leading to emotional consequences, particularly for young men.
- How does the experience of attention deprivation contribute to the radicalization of young men online?
- For young men, the algorithms of social media often lead them to darker corners of the internet. Feeling ignored and deprived of attention, they may seek validation through anger, which can be a gateway to extreme behaviors and identities such as incels, trolls, harassers, and radicals. This anger, rooted in rejection, acts as a tool to regain control and attention, highlighting a potentially dangerous evolutionary advantage.
- How does the unequal distribution of attention on social media contribute to negative emotional consequences?
- The democratization of internet access hasn't resulted in a perfect emotional market. The vast majority of the 5.5 billion connected individuals don't receive symmetrical attention, leading to feelings of rejection and isolation. This is exacerbated by the nature of social media, designed for addiction, not happiness, resulting in failed communications and a constant stream of unreturned interactions.
- What role do online communities play in mitigating or exacerbating the effects of this unequal attention economy?
- While online communities can offer solace and belonging, especially for those feeling marginalized, they often lack the strength and protection against loneliness of traditional communities. Furthermore, their specialized focus can lead to insular, extreme, and even dangerous echo chambers inaccessible to outsiders.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article frames the impact of social media through the lens of Sherry Turkle's perspective, highlighting the unmet fantasies of constant attention, always being heard, and never being alone. This framing emphasizes the negative consequences of social media, potentially downplaying any positive aspects or alternative viewpoints. The use of strong words like "cruel," "adictos" (addicts), and "desheredados" (disinherited) contributes to this negative framing.
Language Bias
The article uses strong, emotionally charged language such as "cruel," "adictos" (addicts), "desheredados" (disinherited), and "oscuros" (dark) to describe the negative effects of social media. This loaded language evokes strong negative emotions and could influence the reader's perception. More neutral alternatives could include words like "challenging," "addictive," "disadvantaged," and "extreme." The repeated emphasis on negativity reinforces a biased perspective.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on the negative aspects of social media and its impact on mental health and social connection. Positive uses of social media, such as building communities around shared interests or facilitating activism, are largely omitted. This omission creates an incomplete picture and may mislead readers into believing social media is inherently harmful.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a somewhat simplistic eitheor framing of online communities: either they offer solace and belonging or they lead to negativity and extremism. The complexity of online interactions and the diverse experiences of users are not fully explored.
Gender Bias
While the article mentions men and young men specifically in relation to the darker aspects of online interaction, there's no explicit gender bias in the overall analysis. However, further analysis of the source material used to support the claims would be needed to rule out any implicit bias.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights how the unequal distribution of attention in online spaces exacerbates existing inequalities. The "economy of attention" creates a system where a few receive overwhelming attention while many experience rejection and invisibility, leading to further marginalization and potentially fueling extremist ideologies. This digital divide mirrors and intensifies socioeconomic disparities, impacting mental health and social inclusion.