In case you are still doubting how Facebook Groups suggestions work, a quick case study:
1. Search for "alternative health." Choose a group with over 70k members.
1. Search for "alternative health." Choose a group with over 70k members.
2. Here are the suggestions for that group:
-a white supremacist/conspiracy theory group called "Sheep No More" (hello pepe the frog), ~9k members
-a Qanon group, ~37k members
-an anti-vaxx/pro-Plandemic group, ~2k members
-a white supremacist/conspiracy theory group called "Sheep No More" (hello pepe the frog), ~9k members
-a Qanon group, ~37k members
-an anti-vaxx/pro-Plandemic group, ~2k members
I've spent the last 10 days muddling through junk like this for a piece I'm working on, and I've been saying this for about two years now: if Facebook *really* wanted to prioritize discussions between friends and family it would get rid of group suggestions altogether.
It would also look at even greater transparency for groups of a certain size.
Instead, it is incentivizing people to join groups with the understanding that radicalization can and does happen.
Again- this took me all of fifteen seconds to find.
Instead, it is incentivizing people to join groups with the understanding that radicalization can and does happen.
Again- this took me all of fifteen seconds to find.
