Do social networks make people more radical and help spread lies? Latvian professor urges caution in drawing conclusions

Social networks play a significant role in public and political life; however, their influence is often exaggerated, as they are used to explain problems that have much more complex causes. This was stated by Janis Bucholc, a professor at the Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, in an interview with the LETA agency. According to him, social networks cannot be considered neutral platforms that do not influence what is happening around them. However, it is equally erroneous to perceive them as an independent force that determines people's behavior and the development of society. ### Why social networks are blamed for everything Bucholc draws attention to the widespread simplified notions of how social networks influence democracy, political views, and the dissemination of information. For example, recommendation algorithms are often seen as the main factor in shaping users' beliefs. However, the professor emphasizes that the outcomes of such processes depend not only on technology. > "The results of processes related to social networks are largely determined by the choices of the users themselves, the activities of various institutions, and the broader socio-political context," he explains. In the expert's opinion, there is a noticeable tendency to place blame on social networks when discussing political polarization, disinformation, and election results. > "The intensification of polarization of views in society, belief in false or incomplete information, and the successes of problematic political forces in elections are just some of the current issues that it is easy to blame social networks as a separate, uncontrollable force," notes Bucholc. However, such an explanation, according to him, hinders understanding the actual causes of what is happening. > "By limiting ourselves to such an explanation, we ignore the complex causes of these problems and, consequently, cannot find effective solutions," emphasizes the professor. These issues are the focus of Janis Bucholc's research, where he examines the development of digital platforms over the past more than 15 years and analyzes their role in public life.