Nature conservation in a digitalized world: echo chambers and filter bubbles

Abstract

Digital echo chambers and filter bubbles are increasingly the subject of societal, political, and scientific discourse. However, the impact of these phenomena on nature conservation remains understudied. This study provides an explorative overview of the potential relevance of digital echo chambers and filter bubbles for nature conservation practice. For this purpose, data collected during a literature review as well as a digital expert survey of German conservation actors was evaluated. The data show that the phenomena are already considered in conjunction with conservation topics with a focus on climate protection in the scientific literature and nature conservation practice to a small but increasing extent. Furthermore, it is recognized that they pose more risks than potential benefits for nature conservation communication. However, the understanding of the exact processes associated with digital echo chambers and filter bubbles is insufficient. The study also identified an extensive need for action and research regarding the strategic consideration and handling of digital echo chambers and filter bubbles in nature conservation practice. There is significant potential to improve the societal acceptance upon which nature conservation depends and to increase the public participation in nature conservation issues. To make a responsible and effective contribution to society, nature conservation must keep abreast of new communication factors that are emerging in the age of digitalization.

Filter bubbles in recommender systems: Fact or fallacy—A systematic review

“…The authors performed a systematic review of 55 studies that examined the presence of echo chambers on social media platforms, classifying the literature and identifying common themes in the focus, techniques, and conclusions of the studies. Similarly, in their paper, Miller et al (2021) provide an exploratory overview of the utilization of digital echo chambers and filter bubbles in the context of nature conservation practice. They gathered data from a literature review and a digital expert poll of German conservation actors to analyze the current understanding of these phenomena.…”

“…Survey prime coverage Related to recommender system? (Bruns, 2019) Filter bubble No (Resnick et al, 2013) Selectivity of exposure preferences and actual exposure No (Amrollahi et al, 2021) Avoiding filter bubbles in social networks No (Terren and Borge-Bravo, 2021) Social media echo chambers No (Miller et al, 2021) The potential relevance of digital echo chambers This phenomenon is exacerbated by the algorithmic content selection employed by social media platforms, which tends to limit users' exposure to novel and diverse content. As a result, online communities become clustered and polarized, lacking the necessary viewpoint diversity.…”

Unravelling Filter Bubbles in Recommender Systems: A Comprehensive Review

“…Additionally, (Miller et al 2021) carried out research to examine how digital echo chambers and filter bubbles are used in nature conservation practices. A review of the literature and a computerized expert survey of German conservationists were part of the study.…”

The implications of digital visual media for human–nature relationships

“…Already, wildlife filmmakers extensively use such metrics to gather information on the reach of their programmes (Aitchison et al., 2021), and researchers have used video and other social media metrics to investigate how different content is received and responded to (Freund et al., 2021). People may preferentially communicate with others who share common views and values, potentially producing echo chambers (Cinelli et al., 2021; Miller et al., 2021). Consequently, reaching a large audience may not have the same impact as reaching the right audience, even if highly engaged.…”