[settsu]

I completely understand the frustration and the conclusion you arrived at. The problem is echo chambers existed before the advent of online social media. Safe to say they have existed since nearly the dawn of human consciousness.

The difference is that once algorithms could be optimized for "engagement", a company simply can't resist amping up the dopamine hits. Because the ultimate goal of those networks is persistent, unrelenting attention. They are for-profit businesses whose primary income is ads (upwards of 98% of Facebook/Meta revenue.)

So the more attention you can drum up, and the longer you can maintain it, the faster the money printer can go brrrr.