Blog Post #9

The Third-Person Effect — When "They" Are the Problem, Not "Me

Imagine when scrolling through social media, you stumble across harmful content that seems to be spreading misinformation, propaganda, or violent content. Well, you're probably thinking, "That doesn't affect me, why should I care if it affects others?" That's a prime example of the third-person effect, a psychological phenomenon where individuals believe others are more affected by media messages than themselves. This was first introduced by W. Phillips Davison in 1983, a communication theorist, and while this may seem harmless or very minuscule, there is so much more to this mindset.

The third-person effect creates a distorted view of social media and how it influences.  People who believe they are not affected by the third-person effect may let their guard down and try to push for more restrictions on social media based on the assumption that others are more vulnerable.  One example is that a parent may want to support the ban of violent video games, but they are not the ones being harmed because they think this will hurt their children and or other people, as they are less intelligent. This belief shapes public opinion and influences policy decisions, often without evidence to back up the fears.   

This can also significantly impact society, creating a sense of division and reinforcing beliefs of intellectual superiority. This is very dangerous as we live in an age of misinformation, especially as older generations tend to think the younger generations are being brainwashed by technology and social media as a whole, while younger generations believe they are being targeted for political campaigns, ad scams, or TV commercials. These mutual assumptions can breed mistrust and prevent open conversations.

This effect can also appear differently in people with different cultures or backgrounds. Someone who grew up wealthy may be entitled to believe that uneducated or poor people may be more affected by the media, which reinforces a classist ideology. The majority of people may feel that minorities are more at risk of being manipulated, which is a form of stereotyping. Many people associate gender and sexuality with certain types of content, saying women will be more influenced by beauty standards. In contrast, men will be more influenced by more aggressive or violent content. While there are many different opinions on which specific groups are affected by the media, some true and some false, the third-person effect often relies on overgeneralized assumptions without factual evidence.

I can see where this is an issue in my life. I can spot it when I think about misinformation online, especially on social media. Still, at the same time, there are times when I've thought things like "I hope people don't actually believe this," making the assumption that other people are more likely to fall for this type of misinformation than I am. Which is precisely what the third-person effect is. It’s not just about how the media influences them but also how our belief in that influence affects us.

Our generation, raised in the digital age, must be more cautious of this bias. Being media savvy doesn't mean you aren't affected. It means recognizing how everyone, including ourselves, is shaped by the content we view and consume. Understanding the Third-Person Effect challenges us to take more personal responsibility and stop underestimating others.