Sorting it out: Bias, Confirmation Bias, and the Social Media Echo chamber Dr. Cuozzo English 12

What is Bias? Dictionary.com: noun1.a particular tendency, trend, inclination, feeling, or  opinion, especially one that is preconceived or unreasoned:  illegal bias against older jobapplicants; the magazine’s bias toward art rather than photography our strong bias in favor of the idea. 2.unreasonably hostile feelings or opinions about a  social group; prejudice:accusations of racial bias.

Bias in media and Journalism Traditional journalism generally attempted to be as objective and unbiased as possible. “News” articles were separate from “opinions” and editorials Journalists work had to be approved by editors, who worked to make sure that information came from verified sources and was put into meaningful contexts Straying from this attempt at objectivity, or not ensuring that all attempts were made to verify information before publishing it, could mean the end of a serious journalist’s career While there has always been a place for “sensational” news and persuasion, people could generally tell the difference between news and opinion

Keeping an eye out for bias Today, even in some major publications and network TV news shows, the line between “objective” reporting and commentary is often blurred “Commentary” can be more engaging and entertaining than simple news reporting Look for evidence that the author/reporter may have bias towards or against one side (or one set of people). Do you get the sense that they favor one side over the other, in the language they use or the evidence they choose to present (or leave out)?

FALSE Equivalence The media must perform a delicate balance between attempting to present news objectively (without bias) if there are two or more sides to an issue, while at the same time not presenting two sides as if they are equally credible or worthwhile if they clearly are not (“false equivalence”) .

CONFiRMATION BIAS “One of the biggest problems with the world today is that we have large groups of people who will accept whatever they hear on the grapevine, just because it suits their worldview—not because it is actually true or because they have evidence to support it. The striking thing is that it would not take much effort to establish validity in most of these cases… but people prefer reassurance to research.” — Neil deGrasse Tyson

Confirmation Bias “Beliefs can survive potent logical or empirical challenges. They can survive and even be bolstered by evidence that most uncommitted observers would agree logically demands some weakening of such beliefs. They can even survive the destruction of their original evidential bases.” — Lee Ross and Craig Anderson “The human understanding when it has once adopted an opinion draws all things else to support and agree with it. And though there be a greater number and weight of instances to be found on the other side, yet these it either neglects and despises, or else by some distinction sets aside and rejects.” — Francis Bacon

CONFiRMATION BIAS “A man sees what he wants to see and disregards the rest” –Paul Simon, from “The Boxer” “What the human being is best at doing is interpreting all new information so that their prior conclusions remain intact.” — Warren Buffett

Social media echo Chamber People tend to connect to other people and organizations that have similar views and values With the expansion of “news” outlets and social media, people will heard ideas similar to their own, or perspectives on events similar to their own, repeated over and over again (“echoing”), giving them the impression that the vast majority of people agree with them, and closing them off to considering alternative perspectives, interpretations, or ideas.