Research On The "Information Cocoons"Effect Of Microblog

Since from the first social networking that contain Microblogging characteristic setted up in2007, Microblogging has become an indispensible part of our lives in the public network information platform。Although nearly two years, Microglog’s momentum becomes a little weaker under the impact of the new microblogging network management model and the emerging social network applications.But there is no doubt,Microblog is still one of the most popular and influential information service network that based on social relationships. Microglog’s features as low threshold、timely dissemination of information and originality,creats a new information platform and opinion square for us. But at the same time, Microblogging information’s customizable and fragmented also build a introverted Information choroid.Cass Sunstein, a professor of University of Chicago Law School, put forward a new concept-"information cocoons " in his work 《Infotopia: How Many Minds Produce Knowledge》 published in2006after careful observation and deep thought of internet users’s behavior:In the information dissemination, due to the information needs of the public itself is not comprehensive, public always only pay attention to information what interested himself. Over time, people will close himself in a "information cocoons ". Development of network technology enables us accurate search, customization information as possible, creating a convenient target for us to quickly get the information, but as the two sides of the coin, it as well as possible induce us to create a closed space of information in the invisible.This article is based on Keith·Sunstein’s "information cocoons" theory and study for microblogging, combine qualitative and quantitative research methods,in order to get a glimpse of the potential threat of the "information cocoons" under the background of the Web2.0and provide reference information for build an open space network. Firstly this paper combed the theory "information cocoon room". And on this basis, discussed the manifestations of microblog’s "Information cocoons ", embodied as "My Journal" type information read mode, homogenization of information sources, evident circle phenomenon and "microcontent." Then analysed the reasons for its formation. Users’selective psychology and herd mentality among personal consumption and exchange views in groups is the decisive factor. While microblogging’s concern screening mechanism and collaborative filtering function as a secondary factor, exacerbated the "information cocoon".For individual users, the "Information cocoons" predisposes people to blind confidence, hinders the overall development of the individual and leads to distortion of their real-world knowledge. If the virtual group in Microblog shackles on the "information cocoon room", exposure to the views of the echo chamber, it can easily lead to violence in the media. And microblogging users’"personal agenda-setting" replace " public agenda setting", missing common experience will undermine social stickiness. At the same time, heterogeneous population lack effective dialogue, the gap between inter-group or contribute to social differentiation. Deal with the "information cocoon room" not only requires the user and operators to balance the differences between personalized and public information consumption, increase the chance of information encounter, shaping the wide-angle, media literacy also should be improved and remarks be reasonable checked.