Social media fuels extreme political rhetoric
UC journalism professor tells Local 12 that online algorithms lead to more polarization
Local 12 talked to a University of Cincinnati journalism professor about how social media is driving increasing polarization.
UC journalism Professor Jeffrey Blevins studies misinformation in mass media. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand
UC College of Arts and Sciences Professor Jeffrey Blevins told Local 12 that the goal of social media algorithms is to keep people engaged, measured by what people like, comment on and spend time watching. Blevins said this can have unintentional consequences.
People often share posts with which they strongly disagree or find offensive, he said.
“I'm likely to be fed that not necessarily by someone who disagrees with me but by someone on my side (politically),” Blevins told Local 12.
The algorithms can lead to a psychological effect called confirmation bias, he said.
“We tend to not seek out information that contradicts our world view,” Blevins said. “We’re more likely to seek out information that reassures us that what we believe is true.”
Blevins co-wrote the award-winning “Social Media, Social Justice and the Political Economy of Online Networks.” He also teaches in UC's School of Public and International Affairs.
Featured image at top: UC Professor Jeffrey Blevins says algorithms feed polarization on social media. Photo/Thomas Northcut
Related Stories
Sugar overload killing hearts
November 10, 2025
Two in five people will be told they have diabetes during their lifetime. And people who have diabetes are twice as likely to develop heart disease. One of the deadliest dangers? Diabetic cardiomyopathy. But groundbreaking University of Cincinnati research hopes to stop and even reverse the damage before it’s too late.
Is going nuclear the solution to Ohio’s energy costs?
November 10, 2025
The Ohio Capital Journal recently reported that as energy prices continue to climb, economists are weighing the benefits of going nuclear to curb costs. The publication dove into a Scioto Analysis survey of 18 economists to weigh the pros and cons of nuclear energy. One economist featured was Iryna Topolyan, PhD, professor of economics at the Carl H. Lindner College of Business.
App turns smartwatch into detector of structural heart disease
November 10, 2025
An app that uses an AI model to read a single-lead ECG from a smartwatch can detect structural heart disease, researchers reported at the 2025 Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association. Although the technology requires further validation, researchers said it could help improve the identification of patients with heart failure, valvular conditions and left ventricular hypertrophy before they become symptomatic, which could improve the prognosis for people with these conditions.