Selective Exposure shapes the Facebook News Diet (1903.00699v1)

Abstract: The social brain hypothesis fixes to 150 the number of social relationships we are able to maintain. Similar cognitive constraints emerge in several aspects of our daily life, from our mobility up to the way we communicate, and might even affect the way we consume information online. Indeed, despite the unprecedented amount of information we can access online, our attention span still remains limited. Furthermore, recent studies showed the tendency of users to ignore dissenting information but to interact with information adhering to their point of view. In this paper, we quantitatively analyze users' attention economy in news consumption on social media by analyzing 14M users interacting with 583 news outlets (pages) on Facebook over a time span of 6 years. In particular, we explore how users distribute their activity across news pages and topics. We find that, independently of their activity, users show the tendency to follow a very limited number of pages. On the other hand, users tend to interact with almost all the topics presented by their favored pages. Finally, we introduce a taxonomy accounting for users behavior to distinguish between patterns of selective exposure and interest. Our findings suggest that segregation of users in echo chambers might be an emerging effect of users' activity on social media and that selective exposure -- i.e. the tendency of users to consume information interest coherent with their preferences -- could be a major driver in their consumption patterns.

• The paper analyzes how selective exposure influences news consumption on Facebook using six years of data from 14 million users and 583 news outlets, finding users focus on a few preferred pages despite broad topic engagement.
• Key numerical results show users engage significantly with only about 10 pages even with high activity, demonstrating pronounced selective exposure to sources while exploring diverse topics within those sources.
• The findings highlight how selective exposure on social media may contribute to echo chambers, suggesting the need for platforms to implement strategies that encourage exposure to more diverse perspectives.

Selective Exposure and the Facebook News Ecosystem

The paper "Selective Exposure shapes the Facebook News Diet" presents a robust quantitative analysis of how selective exposure influences news consumption on Facebook. This analysis is grounded in data collected over six years, involving 14 million users and interactions with 583 news outlets. By exploring the thematic and page-level distribution of user engagement, the paper provides insights into how users navigate their information ecosystems on social media platforms.

The authors investigate the hypothesis that cognitive constraints, similar to those in offline social interactions, influence online consumption patterns. More specifically, they suggest that the tendency to maintain a limited set of social relationships might extend to digital platforms where users show a preference for a limited number of news sources. Despite access to a broad array of news pages within the platform, users tend to focus their engagement on a few selected outlets. Interestingly, within these preferred outlets, users cover a wide range of topics.

Key findings indicate that users demonstrate significant selective exposure—a tendency to interact with content that aligns closely with pre-existing beliefs—potentially reinforcing echo chambers. The paper posits that such behavior leads to content consumption patterns that are not only homogeneous but also resistant to divergent viewpoints. This could be driven by both the cognitive limitations of users and the algorithmic filtering intrinsic to social media platforms.

Numerical Results and Claims

The analysis reveals that user interaction with Facebook pages tends to plateau, with users focusing on approximately 10 pages even if their activity exceeds 300 likes. Moreover, while most users consume diverse topics, the pages form a much narrower funnel of engagement. Active users, in particular, express pronounced selective exposure to their chosen pages, while maintaining broad topic exposure within those pages.

The paper introduces a taxonomy based on user behavior, categorizing users into groups differentiated by selective exposure to pages versus topics. This taxonomy facilitates a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying online content consumption. It highlights patterns ranging from single-topic selective exposure to broader interest-driven consumption.

Implications and Future Directions

These findings hold significant implications for understanding digital information consumption, particularly the role of selective exposure and its potential to segregate users into echo chambers. With social media increasingly central to the dissemination of news, these insights contribute to ongoing discussions about media influence on public opinion and societal polarization.

Theoretically, this research may lay groundwork for refining models of online behavior that account for cognitive and algorithmic impacts on information diets. Practically, it underscores the need for platforms to develop strategies that mitigate biased consumption and cultivate exposure to diverse perspectives.

Future research could expand by incorporating data from other social media platforms, thereby enhancing understanding of cross-platform effects. Additionally, exploring interventions aimed at reducing selective exposure—such as algorithmic moderation or user-driven customization—could offer pathways to creating more balanced information environments.

As AI continues to evolve, integrating these findings into machine learning models that predict user behavior or adjust content delivery could result in more equitable and informed digital spaces.