Ryan Letzer
Research Mentor: Murali Mani
Mentor Department: University of Michigan Flint, Other
Author(s): Not Available
Session: Session 4 (1:00 PM – 1:50 PM)
Presentation Type: Poster 24
Abstract
Engagement based algorithms have been used on social media since the 2010s. However, these algorithms are no longer serving the needs of the average social media user and have become harmful. Our research approaches this problem from an interdisciplinary standpoint, including perspectives from computer science, psychology, communications, and political science fields of study. We tested college students to gather their opinions on two different articles that discuss the same issues, but one article consisted of much more biased language. We surveyed these students after having them read the two different articles. After surveying the students, we analyzed the data to look for overarching themes between responses. The results have shown that most students were able to identify the difference between the real article or the fake article, however their opinions remained largely unchanged. This research could help make social media a safer and more reliable platform for the average social media user. Today’s current socio-political news information comes from social media. A lot of that information is inaccurate or false, and the average social media user will not take the time out of their scrolling to fact check it.
