# Echo Chambers An echo chamber is an environment where a person only encounters information or opinions that reflect and reinforce their own. ^8llu2t Being in an echo chamber increases the likelihood of [[Confirmation Bias]] because one is surrounded by like-minded people, making it easier to dismiss or ignore information that contradicts one's beliefs. ^y7nw8z ![[Yes, Social Media Really Is Undermining Democracy#^f07ipb]] If you rarely (if ever) encounter opposing views, you don’t get the chance to question your own assumptions. Without that friction, potentially wrong beliefs go unchallenged. ![[On Liberty#^cessbw]] [[Echo Chambers Cause Polarization]] ## Echo Chambers in the Age of Social Media In the age of [[Social Media]], echo chambers have become increasingly prevalent because [[Social Media Platforms Are Echo Chambers by Design]]. The term 'echo chamber' predates social media. What social media did was supercharge the phenomenon using recommendation algorithms that maximize engagement, creating echo chambers in the process.