[Technology] Why we behave differently online than in real life

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Given that we're all users in an online chat room, I thought some might be interested in this fascinating pod from the great Brené Brown.

She discusses group behavior on social media and how we show up with each other online versus offline.

There is some fascinating stuff about how the algos fuel hate and incite polarisation.

Dr. William Brady on Social Media, Moral Outrage, and Polarization

Brené and William discuss group behavior on social media and how we show up with each other online versus offline. We’ll also learn about the specific types of content that fuel algorithms to amplify moral outrage and how they tie to our search for belonging.

brenebrown.com

She's a fascinating (and hugely qualified) social scientist who is well worth listening to generally. Her Ted talk on vulnerability has had 65m views and counting -

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Shove it up your bollocks.

Seriously, I'm harmonizing my real life and online 'presentation'. I'm now an annoying twat in both milieu.



Why other people digress, here are my suspected reasons

1. Small willy
2. Racist-curious
3. Drunk

 

[OzMike]

Seems everything has to be analysed.
It could be a generational thing, younger folk using an alter ego to spice their lives up a bit.
Us older lot generally don't give a toss about that and are here to genuinely comment on what we read and would give the same comment if discussed on the street or in a pub.

 

[Cotton Socks]

I will watch that tomorrow, but for now I'm HWT's 3rd theory and have just written a load of shite about politics on one thread and have given tips for a trip to London on another! Although I do talk shite in real life while sober as well.

 

[Klaas]

Seems everything has to be analysed.
It could be a generational thing, younger folk using an alter ego to spice their lives up a bit.
Us older lot generally don't give a toss about that and are here to genuinely comment on what we read and would give the same comment if discussed on the street or in a pub.

That's interesting because, and this is not aimed at you in any shape or form, reading NSC over the years has made me realise that, however old, respectable seeming, and outwardly successful we may be, we're all big kids underneath.
Seriously, some of the biggest most ridiculous flounces/arguments/outrageous statements have been from the 'older lot' on here.

 

[nickjhs]

I don't think I behave differently I am as obnoxious in life as I am online

 

[Weststander]

1. It’s impersonal.
2. Then an accelerating vicious circle fueled by the internet age of polarised views on almost any subject and people getting hot under the collar in disagreements. Manifesting in anger and having to have the last say. The inner child.

 

[Justice]

I was much happier in real life when Potter left

 

[B-right-on]

It's not just on line. In a car there's so many people who turn into first class pricks. The number of times I've seen road rage incidents perpetuated by unassuming people who wouldn't cause such a scene if they were walking down Western Rd.

 

[Guinness Boy]

Interesting, will try and give that a watch later.

There is an extent to which it’s self fulfilling though. As a person I like writing, debating and politics. So a political thread or discussion on here or Twitter seems the natural place for it. We don’t tend to bring these things up at grass roots football games or a dinner table full of work colleagues.

And pretty much every political debate in person, whether it’s in Parliament, on TV or in a staged debate will see people deflect, not answer the question or resort to straw man, whataboutery or ad hominum.

 

[zefarelly]

Shove it up your bollocks.

Seriously, I'm harmonizing my real life and online 'presentation'. I'm now an annoying twat in both milieu.



Why other people digress, here are my suspected reasons

1. Small willy
2. Racist-curious
3. Drunk

2 out of three aint bad

 

[Zeberdi]

Excellent speaker. I watched the video and listened to the podcast.

The social feedback learning (confirmation bias in response to receiving positive reactions ie ‘likes’ etc) was fascinating - the idea that 60% of online users learn to base their content on how it has been received in the group (eg if moral outrage gets a positive reaction then posting more moral outraged posts becomes a way of not only signalling you want to belong to the group and gets you ‘likes’ but creates a bias in the group that is morally outraged (over whatever). Same thing for humour etc. People seeking emotional security or some sort of validation, learn very quickly, that a social media forum is a place where posting the ‘popular‘ view gets the best reaction and ensures your ‘belonging’ to the group - and so it perpetuates. It has nothing to do with age/generation - She is saying that it is rather people’s insecurities irl, that seek affirmation from the number of likes they get on their posting which in turn gives rise to social feedback learning and subsequently influences what they post - something that applies to all age groups.

How algorithms determine what we are exposed to is again, fascinating but how they work is more of a vague and nebulous concept for me, something beavering away in the background to my online use. I don’t really understand the technical side of how they work but that they can produce polarisation in a social online group based on the contributions of a minority of users posting extreme and toxic views makes sense - it cements the view that the out group is extreme thereby pushing the in group vocal minority to respond in more extreme opposing ways. Nuance and neutrality content, not so attractive to online users as conflict and moral outrage, becomes silenced by algorithms magnifying content with skewed understandings.

TLDR - @Couldn't Be Hyypia - Great speaker and interesting vid and podcast, thanks for posting - it explains a lot.

 

[Carlos BC]

Shove it up your bollocks.

Seriously, I'm harmonizing my real life and online 'presentation'. I'm now an annoying twat in both milieu.



Why other people digress, here are my suspected reasons

1. Small willy
2. Racist-curious
3. Drunk

How does a person shove something up their bollocks? I guess around half of the population don't have them so won't be concerned with this.
I am aware that bollocks get a bit more dangly and saggy as the years progress but even taking that into account, I can't work out how it can be done.
Also, if someone was to shove something up their bollocks, what would the item be?
I am currently on the coach on the journey to Burnley so probably won't try this today but could maybe give it a go tomorrow.

 

[AmexRuislip]

Although I do talk shite in real life while sober as well.

Are you a politician

 

[chickens]

The algorithms that these companies use are my pet hate. Your kid watches something on your YouTube profile, and for months afterward you’ve got Paw Patrol videos infesting your recommended videos.

It’s so much darker the other way round though. If your kid clicks on a video that’s more adult in theme than they expect and watches a bit of it, their recommended videos will have loads more of these nestled among the safe stuff. I do wish there was a way to switch the algorithms off in the user settings.

Basically I don’t allow my kids on YouTube unsupervised.

Similarly with social media, you might have watched a conspiracy theory video to marvel at the stupidity of it, or read a conspiracy theory post for the same reason. Yet you’re then bombarded with conspiracy theory hoodoo for months. The algorithm is actively trying to drag you further down the rabbit hole.

Surely the tech companies should be forced to offer an “algorithm off” setting on their platforms?

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

How does a person shove something up their bollocks? I guess around half of the population don't have them so won't be concerned with this.
I am aware that bollocks get a bit more dangly and saggy as the years progress but even taking that into account, I can't work out how it can be done.
Also, if someone was to shove something up their bollocks, what would the item be?
I am currently on the coach on the journey to Burnley so probably won't try this today but could maybe give it a go tomorrow.

It's a quote from the great Irish writer and philosopher, Royston Maurice Keane, as you most certainly know, you little tinker.

Have a great day, and bring back the 3 points .

 

[Flounce]

Any excuse to post this classic

 

[pasty]

The algorithms that these companies use are my pet hate. Your kid watches something on your YouTube profile, and for months afterward you’ve got Paw Patrol videos infesting your recommended videos.

It’s so much darker the other way round though. If your kid clicks on a video that’s more adult in theme than they expect and watches a bit of it, their recommended videos will have loads more of these nestled among the safe stuff. I do wish there was a way to switch the algorithms off in the user settings.

Basically I don’t allow my kids on YouTube unsupervised.

Similarly with social media, you might have watched a conspiracy theory video to marvel at the stupidity of it, or read a conspiracy theory post for the same reason. Yet you’re then bombarded with conspiracy theory hoodoo for months. The algorithm is actively trying to drag you further down the rabbit hole.

Surely the tech companies should be forced to offer an “algorithm off” setting on their platforms?

I must admit I would hate to have young children in this social media/internet age. It must be a nightmare keeping them safe online.

 

[The Clamp]

I try not to analyse things to the Nth degree. There was nothing in the stuff the OP posted that wasn’t pretty obvious, tbh.

The internet is largely appalling.

We thought we were building a global village but then all the idiots turned up with pitchforks and flaming torches.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I must admit I would hate to have young children in this social media/internet age. It must be a nightmare keeping them safe online.

Our 13 year old is online all the time. She is very open (with her mum especially) so we get to hear all about it. Two of her pals are already sailing close to the wind. We have all sorts of parental controls, but the best protection seems to be the good sense of the kid, their astonishing know-how, and the creation of invitation only chatgroups, and the ability, on other sites, to control who can engage. It would be a different story with a kid more silly, or secretive, or indeed a male with all the prurient instincts that kick in as a teen. Crikey, if I were a teenage boy today I would be chin-deep in porn