Algorithmic-radicalization narratives may overstate causation since most frustrated users stay moderate

Evidence

Like Caleb, analyses of his YouTube history also revealed a concerning trajectory; although he started out with fitness and music videos, he quickly discovered ‘alt-lite’ content before moving on to die-hard conspiracy theories, white nationalism, and finally, QAnon videos. Yet, although nobody doubts or discounts the importance of these experiences, you can’t help but wonder if they are the exception rather than the rule. After all, lots of frustrated people go online but do not become extreme or radicalized. As my sceptical colleague Joe Uscinski likes to put it: ‘People often say, “Oh, my God, this thing just happened to my cousin.” Well, no, it didn’t just happen. Your cousin was always a wackadoo. I’m sorry.’ — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof, 387

Categorization

• XREF: Opposes algorithmic pipeline determinism; echoes selection-bias and attribution debates in mass-shooter and ‘gateway drug’ research. — connects to: Creators hijack recommendation algorithms to expose radicalized users to rebuttals — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof: Why Misinformation Infects…, 385; Radicalization stories overstate the causal role of recommendation algorithms — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof: Why Misinformation Infects…, 387; Predictive radicalization claims rest on only ten cases — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of…, 593 (+6 more)

Broader Connections

• Radicalization stories overstate the causal role of recommendation algorithms #corroborates (1.00) — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof, 387
• Predictive radicalization claims rest on only ten cases #corroborates (0.80) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 593