The Algorithmic Amplification of Outrage - NaPodPoMo 2024 - Day 17

In this episode of Outrage Science Bites, we examine the world of technology outrage, exploring how social media algorithms amplify outrage-inducing content. We hear from experts like Tobias Rose-Stockwell, who explains how these platforms unintentionally created products that drive outrage and extreme content. Research reveals that emotionally charged content, particularly moral outrage, keeps us glued to our screens, leading to increased stress, anxiety, and depression. Jonathan Stray emphasizes the need for collaboration between researchers and platforms to understand the impact of these algorithms and potentially change their operation. The episode highlights the broader societal impact, including the erosion of civil discourse and the rise of political polarization. It concludes by emphasizing the responsibility of social media platforms to address these harms and the need for ethical experimentation and a rethinking of platform design.

Additional Resources:

* Outrage Overload podcast