Manuel Mata Hernandez

Prof Weatherred

Jour 306

2/26/19

Selective Exposure Effects and Information

In today’s technologically advanced society, communication has increased substantially

from the limited days of the printing press and little to no competitors. With all the options

available, not limited to just competitors, but also within mediums, such as print, social media,

and broadcasts, the options for receiving information are almost limitless. As is nature with man,

biases within these messages are inevitable, which affect the manner in which we receive and are

affected by these.

In mass media, many theories aim to describe the extent to which media affects

individuals. One effects area of theories, labeled as Limited Effects Theory, argues that the

media rarely influences the individuals directly. This theory, propelled by psychologist Carl

Hovland, argues that individuals have already developed strongly held beliefs, such as religion or

political orientation, and that such beliefs form a sort of barrier against the influence by the

media. Further within this theory lies the idea of selective exposure, which argues that

individuals purposefully expose themselves to media whose messages align with their previously

held beliefs. For example, a viewer would selectively expose themselves to more conservative

news sites, such as Fox News, if their beliefs aligned with those values. Additionally, not only do

they selectively expose themselves to certain media, they also selectively avoid media which

they disagree with fundamentally. Using the example above, the same person who willingly
exposes themselves to Fox News as a news source may seek to avoid more liberal media

channels, such as The New York Times.

In examining the concept of selective exposure, one of the areas to consider is the effects

that such exposure, or avoidance, has on the ability for individuals to procure new information.

One of the inherent problems with selective exposure is the issue referred to as an echo chamber

of ideas. Within this concept, an environment is exposed to an idea, which is then reverberated

and agreed upon within the environment, such as an echo in an enclosed space. By limiting

exposure to ideas, the individual limits the amount of information and discussion received. In

order to increase knowledge, one must be able to expose themselves to information and critically

evaluate certain questions and flaws that may arise. The issue, when absorbing media, is that

individuals often just receive information that fits into their narrative, often avoiding challenging

such ideas, or to even expose themselves to differing opinions. Through debate, ideas and new

perspectives are achieved, furthering one’s knowledge and awareness of complex issues, an area

that is limited by selective exposure.

In regard to the spread of information, selective exposure plays a role in reducing the

reach of such information. As previously mentioned, political discourse would be limited with

limited information. Instead of furthering ideas, raising challenges to different perspectives and

growing as a result, the individuals participating in selective exposure would be at risk of

succumbing to the echo chamber concept. Additionally, given the influence of social media in

today’s society, individuals would share only those messages with which they agree, and limiting

the exposure their connected individuals receive. The result of all this would be a concentration

and acceleration of selective exposure, one where ideas agreed upon are shared widely, and those

that are disagreed with are not, forming a vast and interconnected chamber through social media.