yousehouse

[yousehouse]

Unmasking the Illusory Truth Effect: The Deceptive Power of Repetition

Source: The Denver Post, 21 November 2016

In recent years, the internet has witnessed a surge in the consumption of false information, exemplified by the rapid spread of COVID-19 misinformation, where around 1.1 million misleading articles circulated on social media within a year. This phenomenon, known as "The Illusory Truth Effect," extends its influence beyond health concerns, impacting areas like marketing and journalism (Vellani et al., 2023)

Amidst the overflow of digital information, distinguishing reality from deception becomes increasingly paramount. As highlighted by Pennycook et al. in their 2018 study, our capacity to discern truth from falsehood isn't merely important; it's foundational to our perception of rationality and mental stability, spanning a wide range of domains.

One striking revelation from the research is the "illusory truth effect," a phenomenon that persists despite seemingly unbelievable fake news. This effect remains steadfast despite fact-checker labels and the clash of political beliefs. It serves as a sobering reminder of social media platforms' role in perpetuating misinformation. Merely tagging stories as disputed proves an ineffective countermeasure (Pennycock et al., 2018).

Credit: Ross MacDonald

Even more astonishing is that prior exposure has little sway over entirely implausible statements. This implies that even a modest semblance of plausibility can fuel the illusory truth effect, significantly boosting perceived accuracy with repetition (Pennycock et al., 2018).

These findings ripple beyond the confines of academia; they hold profound implications for democracy itself. In a world where an informed electorate is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, the research paints a challenging picture. A cautionary approach using a Facebook-developed warning labeled "Disputed by 3rd Party Fact-Checkers" didn't manage to dismantle the illusory truth effect. While it did reduce perceptions of fake news accuracy and deter sharing on social media, these effects proved somewhat fragile. Repetition, as it turns out, has a knack for eroding even the most well-intentioned warnings. This underscores the necessity for more comprehensive strategies to shield the public from the deluge of fake news rather than relying solely on qualifiers (Pennycock et al., 2018).

Moreover, the illusory truth effect's reach extends beyond social media and politics. It has the potential to shape beliefs in areas like religion and the paranormal, where empirical validation often proves elusive. The ease of information processing, or "fluency," can become a deceptive stand-in for truth in these domains. This revelation compels us to contemplate the far-reaching consequences of our cognitive biases and the power of repetition to shape our perceptions (Pennycock et al., 2018).

In a world where information is both a blessing and a curse, awareness of the illusory truth effect and its subtle influence on our beliefs is paramount. It serves as a call to action for society to cultivate a discerning and critical mindset that can navigate the complex web of information with wisdom and clarity (Pennycock et al., 2018).

References:

Pennycook, G., Cannon, T. D., & Rand, D. G. (2018). Prior exposure increases perceived accuracy of fake news. Journal of Experimental Psychology. General, 147(12), 1865-1880. https://doi.org/10.1037/xge0000465

Vellani, V., Zheng, S., Ercelik, D., & Sharot, T. (2023). The illusory truth effect leads to the spread of misinformation. Cognition, 236, 105421-105421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2023.105421

[yousehouse]

"Unveiling Social Media's Interplay: Connection, Homophily, and Algorithms"

During adolescence, the strong urge to fit in goes hand in hand with the significant role of smartphone communication apps in the lives of young people. These apps are used by teens for both private and public chats with peers, but alongside this interaction, they struggle with the idea of being excluded by peers. This exclusion, involving intentional omission from groups and sometimes self-imposed distance is emotionally distressing and threatens their sense of belonging, autonomy, and overall development (Marengo et al., 2021).

A crucial factor that clarifies the connection between peer exclusion and emotional turmoil is the "fear of missing out" (FoMO), a type of social anxiety characterized by a strong desire to stay socially engaged. FoMO amplifies sensitivity to stress arising from feelings of neglect and negative reactions from peers online, and it is linked to excessive usage of social media and heightened emotional difficulties. This heightened FoMO, stemming from worries about losing social ties, can escalate emotional challenges. Ultimately, this emphasizes how the exclusion from social circularly affects adolescents' psychological well-being, as it jeopardizes their fundamental need for a sense of belonging (Marengo et al., 2021).

Birds of a feather flock together..

Per Dictionary.com (2023), Homophily is the tendency to form strong social connections with people who share one’s defining characteristics, such as age, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, personal beliefs, etc.,

Homophily uncovers groups of users with likes and similar traits to interact and share content more frequently. Homophily reflects the tendency for individuals to connect with those who share their interests. Various studies have demonstrated that the degree of homophily among users influences the predictability of user profiles, aiding link prediction and product recommendations (De Salve, et al., (2018).

Algorithm:

The importance of individuals' interactions with algorithms extends beyond affecting users' initial encounters. This is due to the interconnected nature of these systems, leading to potential long-term outcomes as they reshape the very foundation of social networks. Most of the online content individuals encounter is tailored using specialized algorithms implemented by the platforms they interact with. From a technical perspective, an "algorithm" can be described as a "series of steps taken to solve a particular problem or accomplish a well-defined outcome." (Lewandowsky et al., 2023).

The importance of interactions that individuals have with algorithms goes beyond shaping their immediate experiences. Due to the interconnected nature of such systems, these interactions can also bring about enduring effects by reshaping the fundamental framework of social networks. Most online content individuals encounter is sifted through proprietary algorithms used by the platforms they interact with. From a technical standpoint, an "algorithm" can be defined as a series of steps taken to solve a particular problem or attain a specific outcome (Lewandowsky et al., 2023).

References:

De Salve, A., Guidi, B., Ricci, L., & Mori, P. (2018). Discovering Homophily in Online Social Networks. Mobile Networks and Applications, 23(6), 1715-1726. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11036-018-1067-2

Lewandowsky, S., Robertson, R. E., & DiResta, R. (2023). Challenges in Understanding Human-Algorithm Entanglement During Online Information Consumption. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/17456916231180809

Marengo, Settanni, M., Fabris, M. A., & Longobardi, C. (2021). Alone, together: Fear of missing out mediates the link between peer exclusion in WhatsApp classmate groups and psychological adjustment in early-adolescent teens. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships., 38(4), 1371–1379. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407521991917

#week3 #algorithm #fomo

[yousehouse]

"Unleashing the Art of Social Sorcery: Mastering Attention & Engagement Opportunities"

The significance of grabbing attention on social media:

• Enhancing Brand Visibility and Awareness: Attention emerges as a rare commodity in a crowded market. Snagging the attention of our intended audience not only boosts brand visibility but also nurtures awareness. This sets the stage for cultivating brand allegiance, drawing in fresh patrons, and broadening our network (Emotiva, 2023).

• Stimulating Interest and Engagement: Social media offers a robust stage for forging connections and captivating our audience. Seizing their attention facilitates the development of meaningful connections, stimulates discourse, and positions us as trailblazers and authorities in our respective fields (Emotiva, 2023).

• Fueling Business Expansion: Ultimately, the art of capturing attention across social media leaves a direct impact on our financial bottom line. Whether it's the promotion of products, services, or brands, attention translates into leads, conversions, and revenue. A meticulously crafted social media blueprint that enthralls our audience has the potential to yield palpable business expansion and contribute to our comprehensive triumph (Emotiva, 2023).

Proven Strategies for Maintaining Social Media Engagement:

To enhance your social media engagement, begin by tracking vital metrics using native analytics on platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. These metrics include likes, comments, shares, and impressions.

Align your social media goals with relevant metrics for assessing success. Define clear engagement objectives to steer your content creation, ensuring that metrics reflect post-interactions and types of engagement. Tailor your engagement strategies to suit each platform's unique metrics, trends, and culture. Choose platforms aligned with your audience and business goals. Understand your target audience's preferences and behaviors to tailor content that resonates. Prioritize platforms that align with your audience, ensuring your content's relevance and value.

Craft compelling posts, embracing short-form videos, images, and live videos with high engagement rates. Authentic content like customer testimonials holds resonance. Refine your content strategy by analyzing your data. Create shareable content that naturally encourages sharing. Emphasize visual content, prompting your audience to share posts with value or relatability. Optimize the timing of your posts, identifying ideal posting times based on platforms and audience. Maintain an active presence with 1-2 daily posts that balance frequency and quality. Lastly, execute and refine your engagement strategy by perpetually testing and adapting. Stay receptive to evolving social media trends, adjusting your approach to sustain effectiveness (Sprout Social, Inc., 2023).

References:

Ashley C, Tuten T. Creative Strategies in Social Media Marketing: An Exploratory Study of Branded Social Content and Consumer Engagement. Psychology & Marketing. 2015;32(1):15-27. doi:10.1002/mar.20761

Emotiva. (2023, May 31). Capturing attention on social media: Challenges and importance - linkedin. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/capturing-attention-social-media-challenges-importance-emotiva-ai

Sprout Social, Inc. . (2023, June 28). Social Media engagement: What it is and tips to improve it. Sprout Social. https://sproutsocial.com/insights/social-media-engagement/

To enhance your social media engagement, begin by tracking vital metrics using native analytics on platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. These metrics include likes, comments, shares, and impressions (Sprout Social, Inc., 2023). Align your social media goals with relevant metrics for assessing success. Define clear engagement objectives to steer your content creation, ensuring that metrics reflect post-interactions and types of engagement (Sprout Social, Inc., 2023). Tailor your engagement strategies to suit the unique metrics, trends, and culture of each platform. Choose platforms aligned with your audience and business goals (Sprout Social, Inc., 2023). Understand your target audience's preferences and behaviors to tailor content that resonates. Prioritize platforms that align with your audience, ensuring your content's relevance and value (Sprout Social, Inc., 2023). Craft compelling posts, embracing short-form videos, images, and live videos which boast high engagement rates. Authentic content like customer testimonials holds resonance. Refine your content strategy by analyzing your data (Sprout Social, Inc., 2023). Create shareable content that naturally encourages sharing. Emphasize visual content, prompting your audience to share posts that provide value or relatability (Sprout Social, Inc., 2023). Optimize the timing of your posts, identifying ideal posting times based on platforms and audience. Maintain an active presence with 1-2 daily posts that strike a balance between frequency and quality (Sprout Social, Inc., 2023). Lastly, execute and refine your engagement strategy by perpetually testing and adapting. Stay receptive to evolving social media trends, adjusting your approach to sustain effectiveness (Sprout Social, Inc., 2023).