Everyone is the same” is an illusion! The social networking trap behind Mr. Takaichi’s overwhelming victory and 3 self-defense measures to protect yourself

Everyday we open our phones, we are bombarded with videos of people who share the same opinions and preferences as we do. Do you feel at ease thinking that “everyone is thinking the same way”?　In fact, it may not be because you are right, but because you are trapped in an invisible cage called the “filter bubble” created by the algorithms of social networking services.

Based on an explanation by Sakiki Takamiya, deputy chief researcher at the Dai-ichi Institute of Life Economics, we will look at the dangerous mechanism of SNS that manipulates our thoughts and concrete measures to escape from this trap.

Invisible Cage “Filter Bubble

Algorithmic functions of Internet searches and social networking services are said to determine users’ preferences and needs, prioritizing the information they “want to see” and blocking out “information they are not interested in. This state of being exposed only to information that one is interested in is the “filter bubble.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications’ White Paper on Information and Communications (Reiwa 2023) also points out the following

Users who continue to receive information delivered by algorithmic functions tend to be exposed only to the information that interests them, creating what is called a “filter bubble,” a state in which they feel as if they are surrounded by a film of information. Inside this bubble, many ideas and opinions similar to one’s own are gathered, and those that are opposed are excluded (filtered out), making it difficult to notice their existence itself.

Furthermore, the white paper points out that communication on social networking sites, where users with similar interests and concerns to oneself gather, can result in the return of opinions similar to one’s own. It calls the state in which a particular opinion or thought is amplified an “echo chamber.

By hearing similar opinions over and over again, they tend to believe more strongly that they are correct and without error, he said.

Sakiki Takamiya, deputy chief researcher at the Dai-ichi Institute of Life Economics, sounds the following warning about this kind of information environment.

Not only is biased information visible, but the bias is formed gradually, making it difficult for users to be aware of it. It is easy to perceive it as a comfortable information environment, and it is difficult to notice even if the range of information contact is narrowed.

Furthermore, in such a “comfortable space,” it is easy for extreme opinions to spread. Mr. Takamiya describes the psychology of the Internet as follows.

In the online world, there may be people who believe in the content of the information, and there may be people who are just looking for fun in order to inflame the flames, and because they want a reaction on social networking sites, their words may be provocative and they may dare to post strong opinions or counter opinions.

Mr. Takaichi’s overwhelming victory and clipped video

The influence of these social networking services is not limited to the world of politics, but also extends to the sale of products such as health foods. In both cases, “short clipped videos” on YouTube and other social networking sites are spreading and increasing their presence in the Internet space.

In the lower house election held on February 8 this year, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) led by President Sanae Takaichi won a historic victory. The LDP, led by LDP President Sanae Takaichi, won a historic victory in the lower house election held on February 8 this year.

The results of the lower house election have been reviewed by the media in a variety of ways. The Mainichi Shimbun reported in its February 17 online edition, “Why did Takaichi ‘hijack the information space’ (experts)? The Mainichi Shimbun reported in its February 17 online edition, “Why did Mr. Takaichi’s ‘hijacking of the information space’ (expert) happen?

The Asahi Shimbun also reported in its online edition of February 22, “The World of Election Videos Has Expanded Tenfold in Two Years: Takaichi Stands Out.

According to a survey conducted by Election.com, approximately 90,000 election-related videos were posted on YouTube between January 27 and February 8, with the number of views reaching approximately 2.8 billion. In particular, the following points were noted.

• Videos related to Mr. Takaichi, by individual, stood out with 450 million views.
• Videos posted by political parties and candidates accounted for less than 20% of the total, while “third parties” accounted for 80%.

During the election period, clipped videos about people who are favored by the candidates were spread one after another, and this may have affected the election results.

Such “clipped videos” and algorithmic influences are not limited to the major theme of politics, but have also entered our everyday lives.

Mr. Takamiya explains how he sometimes feels that these clipped videos are connected to sales promotion activities for health food products.

When I meet and talk with friends who are raising children, they sometimes introduce specific health food products by saying that they have seen instagrams or short videos that say, ‘This health food is recommended for children who have tantrums.

Short videos cut out certain parts of the video, are short, and have a strong message. On the other hand, there are often connecting parts before and after, and by viewing them as a whole, a comprehensive judgment can be made.

Mr. Takamiya speaks as follows.

There are times when we are so busy that we don’t have much time, so we rely on short videos that make short work of things. At such times, I sometimes feel uneasy about whether I and my users are really aware of the characteristics and problems of short videos, such as who the sender is.

In his report, Mr. Takamiya points out that this situation in the Internet space can be easily relieved and convinced by the filter bubble, which reduces the burden of information search. On the other hand, the report analyzes that there is a risk of simplification of understanding of society due to a sustained decrease in exposure to different viewpoints and counter-evidence.

Three measures” for self-protection

After understanding the characteristics of Internet search and SNS, Mr. Takamiya emphasizes the importance of “self-governance” on the part of users. Specifically, the measures are as follows.

• 1_Try searches that include “counterarguments,” “limitations,” and “alternative explanations.
• 2_Don’t just rely on information from SNS, but also look at the original information (primary information)
• 3_Do not immediately spread posts that you have a strong reaction to on SNS, etc., but try to leave a cushion between posts.

Countries are taking measures to combat the use of social networking sites. At the end of last year, Australia enacted a law restricting the use of social networking services by people under 16 years of age. The law restricts the creation of new accounts and the holding of existing accounts, and companies that operate such accounts may be fined if they violate the law. The prime minister of Spain has reportedly announced a similar policy, and there is also a move toward restrictions targeting younger users in Europe.

Mr. Takamiya also spoke about regulatory trends in Europe and the U.S. as follows.

The European Union (EU) is moving forward with more comprehensive regulations.

The European regulations allow users to choose whether or not to apply profiling, which is the inference of a target’s characteristics based on fragmentary information about Internet users.

Mr. Takamiya also speaks of Japan.

It would be desirable to incorporate SNS use into school education, just as we do with financial education.

We should try to understand the characteristics of SNS and use them appropriately so that we can be exposed to various views and opinions.