Social Media Echo Chambers and Unfulfilled Promises of Democratic Education

Ahmed, Anwar

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-06501-9_6

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 30 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Information disorder comprises misinformation, disinformation, and mal-information, terms widely discussed in the library literature (Cooke, 2021a(Cooke, , 2021bHead, 2021;Fister, 2017). Information disorder is worsened by biased algorithms designed to keep users engaged (Houli et al, 2021;O'Neil, 2016;Noble, 2018), which may lead to echo chambers and rabbit holes (Ahmed, 2022;Pierre, 2020). Internet users, sheltered by a browser or app that feeds them targeted and ranked search results and advertising, may not think to turn off tracking or switch to a different one (Zuboff, 2019;Wachter-Boettcher, 2017).…”

Section: Information Disordermentioning

confidence: 99%

Library workers on the front lines of conspiracy theories in the US: one nationwide survey

Beene

Greer

2023

RSR

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate whether and in what ways library workers in the United States encountered patrons espousing beliefs in conspiracy theories and, if so, to explore the effectiveness of the strategies they used to address information disorder during the interactions.Design/methodology/approachThe study was designed with an exploratory qualitative approach. Data were collected via an online survey posted to national and state library association listservs, utilizing a self-selected sampling method. Researchers inductively and deductively analyzed results, developing predetermined themes based on the research questions, then iteratively integrating unexpected data during coding.FindingsA total of 334 responses were received over two weeks. Data represent library workers from 43 states and Washington, D.C., including various types of libraries. Library workers interacted with patrons with conspiratorial thinking, and both library workers and patrons evidenced a range of emotions and motivations.Originality/valueThis is the first national study to survey library workers and whether they encountered patrons espousing conspiracy theories. While the sample size is small, themes elucidate various strategies that library workers use for interacting with patrons who express some level of conspiracy ideation.

show abstract