COGNITIVE BIASES AND SOCIO-DIGITAL NETWORKS

ELEMENTS FOR INTERPRETATION

Abstract

This paper investigates the nature of communication on the internet across various platforms and applications, with a particular focus on how it is shaped by cognitive biases, especially those of a technological and ideological-moral nature. It examines the impact of these biases on communication within socio-digital networks (SDNs), arguing that they significantly hinder effective interaction, which is essential for fostering understanding, agreement, and cooperation. The central research question explores how such biases influence communicative dynamics in SDNs. Methodologically, the research conducts a synthetic review of key cognitive biases considered crucial for understanding their role in contemporary digital communication. The findings indicate that these biases compromise the clarity and efficacy of online discourse, contributing to a fragmented communicative scenario — a Tower of Babel — where seemingly interactive dialogues often devolve into monologues. This fragmentation has far-reaching consequences, including increased political polarization, social isolation, and a deepening sense of loneliness.