Large networks of rational agents form persistent echo chambers

Abstract Echo chambers (ECs) are enclosed epistemic circles where like-minded people communicate and reinforce pre-existing beliefs. It remains unclear if cognitive errors are necessarily required for ECs to emerge, and then how ECs are able to persist in networks with available contrary information...

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Autores principales:	Jens Koed Madsen, Richard M Bailey, Toby D. Pilditch
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Nature Portfolio 2018
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/5ddbbdcda7294b2fb9ec66b28cca01ed
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:5ddbbdcda7294b2fb9ec66b28cca01ed2021-12-02T11:41:13ZLarge networks of rational agents form persistent echo chambers10.1038/s41598-018-25558-72045-2322https://doaj.org/article/5ddbbdcda7294b2fb9ec66b28cca01ed2018-08-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-25558-7https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322Abstract Echo chambers (ECs) are enclosed epistemic circles where like-minded people communicate and reinforce pre-existing beliefs. It remains unclear if cognitive errors are necessarily required for ECs to emerge, and then how ECs are able to persist in networks with available contrary information. We show that ECs can theoretically emerge amongst error-free Bayesian agents, and that larger networks encourage rather than ameliorate EC growth. This suggests that the network structure itself contributes to echo chamber formation. While cognitive and social biases might exacerbate EC emergence, they are not necessary conditions. In line with this, we test stylized interventions to reduce EC formation, finding that system-wide truthful ‘educational’ broadcasts ameliorate the effect, but do not remove it entirely. Such interventions are shown to be more effective on agents newer to the network. Critically, this work serves as a formal argument for the responsibility of system architects in mitigating EC formation and retention.Jens Koed MadsenRichard M BaileyToby D. PilditchNature PortfolioarticleMedicineRScienceQENScientific Reports, Vol 8, Iss 1, Pp 1-8 (2018)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Jens Koed Madsen Richard M Bailey Toby D. Pilditch Large networks of rational agents form persistent echo chambers
description	Abstract Echo chambers (ECs) are enclosed epistemic circles where like-minded people communicate and reinforce pre-existing beliefs. It remains unclear if cognitive errors are necessarily required for ECs to emerge, and then how ECs are able to persist in networks with available contrary information. We show that ECs can theoretically emerge amongst error-free Bayesian agents, and that larger networks encourage rather than ameliorate EC growth. This suggests that the network structure itself contributes to echo chamber formation. While cognitive and social biases might exacerbate EC emergence, they are not necessary conditions. In line with this, we test stylized interventions to reduce EC formation, finding that system-wide truthful ‘educational’ broadcasts ameliorate the effect, but do not remove it entirely. Such interventions are shown to be more effective on agents newer to the network. Critically, this work serves as a formal argument for the responsibility of system architects in mitigating EC formation and retention.
format	article
author	Jens Koed Madsen Richard M Bailey Toby D. Pilditch
author_facet	Jens Koed Madsen Richard M Bailey Toby D. Pilditch
author_sort	Jens Koed Madsen
title	Large networks of rational agents form persistent echo chambers
title_short	Large networks of rational agents form persistent echo chambers
title_full	Large networks of rational agents form persistent echo chambers
title_fullStr	Large networks of rational agents form persistent echo chambers
title_full_unstemmed	Large networks of rational agents form persistent echo chambers
title_sort	large networks of rational agents form persistent echo chambers
publisher	Nature Portfolio
publishDate	2018
url	https://doaj.org/article/5ddbbdcda7294b2fb9ec66b28cca01ed
work_keys_str_mv	AT jenskoedmadsen largenetworksofrationalagentsformpersistentechochambers AT richardmbailey largenetworksofrationalagentsformpersistentechochambers AT tobydpilditch largenetworksofrationalagentsformpersistentechochambers
_version_	1718395462462996480

Large networks of rational agents form persistent echo chambers

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