Part 6/14:
This attention extraction is likened to fracking for junk energy—shortening attention spans, deepening polarization, and creating echo chambers that reinforce extreme views and conspiracy theories. These tools manipulate vulnerabilities—such as negativity bias, social approval needs, and confirmation bias—fueling distrust, misinformation, and societal fragmentation.
The Danger of a Self-Perpetuating System
Experts warn that these algorithms are not just passive mirrors but active agents "controlling the information ecosystem." Social media companies, motivated by profits from advertising and data collection, have created a "junk attention economy", where the currency is user engagement, not truth or well-being.
This dynamic has dire implications: