I really don't know about this. There are certainly fringe groups active on Facebook but at least in my immediate circle it's mostly a tool to connect families, friends and communities. I really don't see it as a forum for ideas or activism, unlike Twitter or reddit. but maybe that's just the bubble I'm in.
> I really don't see it as a forum for ideas or activism, unlike Twitter or reddit. but maybe that's just the bubble I'm in.
Exactly -- and that's the real danger of algorithmic engagement-driven content.
For you, it's picking harmless content because that's what you engage with. But once you start engaging with, say, some crazy cult, Facebook's algo will pick up on that, and start prioritizing content from the crazy cultists. In time, you'll get to the point where you're only seeing content from the cultists, and come to believe that's what everyone thinks, because that's all you'll ever see. YouTube suffers from this too.
For me, when I had a Facebook account, it would show me this kind of content. Not because I agreed with it, but I felt compelled to argue with it. But with their algorithm that counted as engagement. So whenever I logged in I had a wall full of hostile content. It was affecting my mental wellbeing so I just deleted the whole thing and haven’t looked back.
If you're unlucky enough to have lots of crazy Trump cultist family members, or live in the conservative South, or both, Facebook will show you a never-ending stream of this content as well. It's like having to walk past an overflowing toilet on the way to the cafeteria, every time I go to check my Facebook.
