# Social Media Platforms Are [[Echo Chambers]] by Design [[Social Media Algorithms Are Designed to Maximize Engagement]] for advertising purposes. The more time we spend on social media platforms, the more money they make. People generally consume social media for enjoyment and community building, meaning they're more likely to spend more time on content they agree with, simply because they find it more enjoyable. Over time algorithms learn these preferences, and end up presenting users agreeable content only, thereby creating echo chambers. Common social media lore even advises us to engage in discussions with like-minded people only, lest we be labeled as trolls or bots. As a consequence, any differences from the local norm are suppressed. ![[Yes, Social Media Really Is Undermining Democracy#^f07ipb]]