Echokammer

We live in a world where informational networking defines our lives, a digital world full of possibilities that also brings about overwhelm. Do we still have the ability to focus on what is essential, to distinguish between the important and the unimportant? Digitalization shapes our everyday lives like never before. Social networks such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and others have become indispensable, yet social communication often falls by the wayside. An echo chamber (digital filter bubble) leads to societal alienation and increasing self-centeredness – a pressing social issue of our time. With every post, every like, and every click online, we leave digital traces that are not only captured and stored but also analyzed, traced, and reused by third parties. Communication designers Claudia Stollenwerk and Miriam Keil reveal how our opinion formation can be manipulated and how data collectors benefit from our online behavior. Alongside the current state of communication in the digital transparency society, the impacts of artificial intelligence (social bots), fake news, and the political power of social networks are illustrated. The layout playfully incorporates elements of our digital world, captivating the readership. Complex issues and seemingly abstract terms are made easily accessible through illustrative infographics.