It is well known that Instagram and Co. often fool us into an illusory world. Still, some users feel intimidated by the seemingly perfect lives of others. In addition to the risk of blurring reality, social media also harbors the risk of spreading false information. The psychologist Christian Montag examined these problems in his book "You belong to us" (Penguin Random House). In an interview with the news agency spot on news, he gives an assessment and tips.
In your book you criticize big tech companies. Many users will probably not turn their backs on Facebook, Instagram and Co. in the future either. Why do we still use social networks despite security gaps and data theft?
Christian Montag: There are many reasons for that. On the one hand, some online offers meet basic needs for exchange or loyalty. I can stay in touch with my family over long distances using online technologies. Personally, I have spent a lot of my research time in China in recent years. This would not have been possible for me without the possibility of using online communication technologies. I simply hadn't seen my wife and daughter for too long.
Irrespective of this, some platforms are also tools at work and not taking place there is not a solution either. The fact that we are still on the platforms despite the scandals is also relatively easy to understand: the cognitive dissonance that we experience here builds up off by telling ourselves that half of humanity is also on social media. Personally, I have nothing to hide and when in doubt we are all in the same boat and then have the same problem.
The convenience factor should also not be forgotten. Many platforms are now so user-friendly that competing products at least have a hard time asserting themselves on the market. And then switching to a platform that many people in my social circle are not yet on is not very profitable. In this context, the permeability of online platforms will be one of the major issues in the near future.
When using social media, what should we consider?
Montag: That depends a bit on the topic. If you're addressing issues like fake news and filter bubbles, the easiest solution is probably to not just educate yourself about the daily news happening on social media. In my own news feed, I am essentially shown things that are probably of particular interest to me based on my usage history. There is controversy over how many opposing positions to my worldviews, particularly on the political spectrum, are actually presented to me in my feed. Basically, a balanced media consumption helps to contain the danger of falling for fake news, of course also the recognized public service media.
In addition, there are media literacy interventions that can actually help to identify fake news earlier and pass it on less. Is the headline of a message particularly lurid, does the URL look weird, what image material is used? The role of analytical thinking is central in combating fake news.
Unfortunately, such posts and tweets still reach particularly high levels of reach on social media if they specifically provoke outrage and anger. It is urgent to change the algorithms in the news feeds of the tech companies.
Influencers who create a perfect illusory world with edited images are also often heavily criticized. What does this do for followers?
Monday: There is a discussion in many scientific papers about the extent to which such perfect illusory worlds put pressure on users. For example, one's own self-esteem could suffer through the daily consumption of perfect-looking people. You get the feeling that you are no longer enough. Eating disorders could also be fueled, especially in young girls. In Norway, every edited image should therefore be marked as such on social media.
How do you manage not to be influenced by this illusory world without a filter and a seemingly perfect life?
Montag: I think there are a few things that everyone can do for themselves. Other things have to be tackled in society as a whole. The goal must be to regain sovereignty over the structure in everyday life, which has destroyed the data business model behind many online applications. In the age of the attention economy and surveillance capitalism, we must overcome the fragmentation of everyday life. In concrete terms, this means fewer interruptions by switching off push notifications, using classic timers such as a wristwatch to structure everyday life properly again and creating work phases in which deep concentration is possible again.
As a society as a whole, I advocate moving away from the data business model; instead, public social media might be an attractive alternative to get many of the problems such as loss of privacy, fake news and addiction-like use of online content under control. But of course: All this will not be available for free. Nevertheless, I think that it would be better to pay for such an online offer with money than with your own data.
