TSYS School Alum Publishes Research on Filter Bubbles across Social Media

A new study by TSYS School alum Jordan Harner appearing in the Journal of Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics investigates how prominent social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter use content and filter algorithms that play a significant role in creating filter bubbles that captivate users.  The study explains that filter bubbles are created when a social media website feeds user interactions into an algorithm that then exposes the user to more content similar to that which they have previously interacted.  By continually exposing users to like-minded content, this can create what is called a feedback loop where the more the user interacts with certain types of content, the more they are algorithmically bombarded with similar viewpoints.  The paper, co-authored with TSYS School professor Lydia Ray and Florence Wakoko-Studstill of CSU’s Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology, hypothesizes that the secrecy around content algorithms and their ability to perpetuate filter bubbles creates an environment where false information is pervasive and not easily mitigated with the existing algorithms designed to provide false information warning messages.  Both Facebook and Twitter provide various forms of false information warning messages which sometimes include fact-checked research to provide a counter viewpoint to the information presented.  The results of a survey administered by the authors indicate that users would spend less time on Facebook or Twitter once they understood how their data is used to influence their behavior on the sites and the information that is fed to them via algorithmic recommendations.  Further analysis revealed that only 23% of respondents who had seen a Facebook or Twitter false information warning message changed their opinion “always” or “frequently” with 77% reporting the warning messages changed their opinion only “sometimes” or “never” suggesting the messages may not be effective.  Similarly, users who did not conduct independent research to verify information were likely to accept false information as factual.

Harner, the lead author on the study, is currently a product owner with Allegis Group, the global leader in talent solutions with $12.3 billion in revenues and more than 500 global locations.  Allegis Group is part of a network of specialized companies providing a full suite of complementary talent solutions to nearly every workforce challenge.  Prior to his affiliation with Allegis Group, Harner worked for eight years in various positions at Aflac.  He earned a B.A. degree in Spanish, and a bachelor of B.B.A degree in international business, from Valparaiso University in 2014.  More recently, in 2022, Harner earned an M.S. degree in cybersecurity management from the Turner College’s TSYS School of Computer Science.  Ray earned a doctorate in computer science from LSU in 2005.  She recently served as the executive officer of CSU’s faculty senate.  Wakoko-Studstill holds an M.A. degree in women’s studies and a doctorate degree rural sociology, both from Ohio State University.  She also holds workplace certifications in diversity, equity and inclusion.