Few swarm intelligence on the internet

Ralf Kurvers, head of the “Collective Intelligence” group at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, explains that swarm mechanisms can also be found in humans. Nevertheless, the application of swarm intelligence is not universally possible.

Experiments on the stock market in which funds relied on the intelligence of many investors have failed. The reason: there were agreements between the individual investors. However, in order to be able to use the wisdom of the swarm, it is important that each individual does not know how the others decide.

The internet does not necessarily lead to increased swarm intelligence either. Social media algorithms, for example, are primarily aimed at generating followers for certain content by targeting users with emotional messages. This is not about increasing collective well-being or improving collective decision-making.

The algorithms structure does exactly the opposite of what moving closer together does for animals. It completely hinders consensus building and makes it difficult for a society as a whole to work towards a common goal.

The focus of many social media platforms is to increase followers for certain content. This can lead to a distortion of information, as the content is not necessarily focused on objectivity and truth, but on popularity and appeal.

Despite the potential to improve collective decision-making, many social media platforms lack mechanisms to promote constructive discussions and collaboration. Instead, filter bubbles can emerge, where users are only confronted with opinions and information that confirm their existing views.

As a result, the focus of social media on generating followers and emotional messages can create the illusion of swarm intelligence, while in reality neglecting collective decision-making and collective well-being.

Swarmi.org is aware of this dynamic and is working to base its follower generation less on emotional messages, and more on objectivity and truth, in order to actually contribute to increased swarm intelligence.