Trapped in echo chambers

The Star

05-07-2025

Tharman giving his opening address at the International Conference on Cohesive Societies on June 24. — The Straits Times/Asia News Network
NO one can escape the reality that much of what is seen on social media has been shaped by algorithms designed by tech giants – and these algorithms, more often than not, deepen divisions rather than bridge them, says Singapore president Tharman Shan-mugaratnam.
In his speech at the International Conference on Cohesive Societies 2025, Tharman said citizens in many societies no longer have a shared reality, a shared framework of facts upon which they form different views.
'We no longer live in that world because increasingly, a more divided media space and social media algorithms are leading to a more divided public and more divisive politics.
'Studies have shown that if people have regular exposure to a feed of stories that accord with their ideological preferences or views, it strengthens their preferences.
'It makes them more partisan and it polarises society. In other words, it's not like just another consumer good that is meeting people's preferences. Here, it is accentuating preference and it is a polarising force.'
He also points out that the advertising-based social media business model also has an incentive to maximise attention.
'Studies here too have shown that to maximise attention, you propagate negative messages. And wait for what is coming. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are setting in motion further changes.
'AI-driven search interfaces and chatbots may very well create a flood of synthetic media of dubious provenance. It's not yet prevalent, but it's coming.'
He outlines a reminder that both government and civil society have to actively work together – with the tech companies that run the largest social media platforms – to make democracy safer and more sustainable.
Tharman cites the European Union's new Digital Services Act as a good example, as he says it holds the social media platforms accountable for content and requires quick removal of hate speech.
'We do essentially the same in Singapore and Australia, and a few other countries. The EU has also gone further to address the systemic risks posed by social media algorithms.
'They require the larger platforms to dial back the risks of algorithmic amplification of disinformation. It's not easy, because a lot of the onus is on the platforms themselves, but the laws are in place and it's an important start.'
Tharman says he is aware that some may describe the measure as 'over-regulation'.
'It is more regulation than the big tech players are used to. One can debate the specific mechanisms, but an unregulated media landscape will only see democracy gradually unravel.
'There is no easy step off from this race between the leading tech companies and the platforms that they run. They have an incentive to keep people and traffic within their own platforms. They have the incentive to maximise attention through negative news.
'So this is an market-driven algorithmic treadmill, and there's no easy stepping off. It can only be addressed through regulation of the market – regulation set by the public sector, but with significant engagement of both civil society and the tech companies. In fact, in the case of the European Union's Digital Services Act, civil society was very actively involved in working with public sector officials in formulating the plans.'
He also says established news media will also have to respond to the challenge of a fragmenting landscape.
'If they can show that they have a brand of journalism that is built on accuracy and transparency; if they can show that they are reporting the world as it is, and separating news from opinion; and if they can show that when they publish opinions, they're providing different perspectives for people to assess – that will help restore trust and the value of their brands.'