12/03(Tue.) Bandwagon effect and FOMO. Host:Julian

[Julian]

Article cited from: https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/bandwagon-effect

Session I - Bandwagon effect

Why do we support opinions as they become more popular? Bandwagon Effect, explained.

What is the Bandwagon Effect?
The Bandwagon effect refers to our habit of adopting certain behaviors or beliefs because many other people do the same.

How it all started
While the phenomenon of popularity increasing the appeal of ideas is by no means a new discovery, using the term “bandwagon” to denote the effect began in 1848. During Zachary Taylor's successful United States presidential campaign, a popular performance clown invited Taylor to join his circus bandwagon. Taylor received significant recognition and people started claiming that his political opponents might also want to “jump on the bandwagon.”6

Meanwhile, the academic study of the bandwagon effect gained traction in the 1980s as scholars studied the effect of public opinion polls on voters. People feared that published polls encouraged voters to act according to popular opinion rather than their knowledge of the issues at hand.7

Where the bias occurs
Consider the following hypothetical: John is an avid fan of his local basketball team called “the Sharks.” His favorite team has always played well, and he loves attending their games with his friends every weekend.

One day, the league officials announced the formation of a new basketball team in the neighboring town named the “Fighters.” This underdog team soon rises to the top of the leaderboard, winning nearly all of their games that season. Their popularity skyrockets. Soon, people from John’s town are wearing Fighters’ jerseys and cheering them on at local bars. “Fighter mania” as it’s soon dubbed, spreads all across the region.

Meanwhile, the Sharks are not doing so well. John’s friends, who were also fans, slowly start switching allegiances to the more dominant and popular Fighters. Suddenly, John decides that he too supports the Fighters. After all, they have a shot at winning this year’s championship, he thinks to himself.

The next day, John cheers on the Fighters at his local bar—indistinguishable from the mass of other fans that form Fighter mania.

The snowballing popularity of the Fighters, and John’s subsequent decision to support them, is an example of the bandwagon effect. Yes, the Fighters are a good team, but the reason John began supporting them is because so many around him had already switched allegiances.

The bandwagon effect and AI
As AI skyrockets in popularity, companies are eagerly incorporating machine learning functionalities into their products as a marketing gimmick. They know that including the buzzword in their branding is often enough to encourage consumers to buy their product, thanks to the bandwagon effect.

The problem with rapid adoption is it might convince us that AI is always an innovative technology—everyone else is using it, so it must be helpful! Little do we realize is that AI integration doesn’t always provide significant advantages; it can even complicate the processes it claims to simplify. For example, it may be easier to set your own alarm rather than rely on an algorithm that miscalculates your sleep patterns. Or it might be simpler to turn on the light yourself rather than yelling at your AI assistant to do it ten times.

With the bandwagon effect in mind, it is important to be critical about which aspects of our lives we want to incorporate machine learning into. Remember: just because it helps a large group of people doesn’t guarantee it will help you.

Why it happens
The bandwagon effect describes that when an idea or belief increases in popularity, we are more likely to adopt it. There are a few reasons behind this, the first of which is efficiency:

Our brain uses shortcuts
We rely on mental shortcuts called “heuristics.” The bandwagon effect serves as a heuristic by allowing us to make decisions quickly. Fully thinking through a behavior or idea and deciding whether it is worth endorsing or not takes time and energy. Many of us see widespread adoption as a cue to adopt a similar stance. That is to say we skip the long process of individual evaluation by relying on others, measuring validity with widespread popularity. If many people are in favor of something, we decide it’s safe to adopt those same beliefs.2

We want to fit in
Most of us dislike feeling excluded from communities and social events To avoid being the odd one out, many of us go along with the behaviors or ideas of a group to feel like we belong. After all, conformity ensures some degree of inclusion and social acceptance. Sometimes we take our conformity a step even further by adopting norms or attitudes to gain approval and bolster our position within a group.3

We want to be on the winning side
More often than not, the beliefs that the majority uphold feel right and are subsequently adopted. Our endorsement may be subconscious; we may not intentionally accept the majority opinion thinking we want to be on the “winning side.” We have likely evolved to instinctively support popular beliefs because standing against them can be disadvantageous at best and dangerous at worst.4

Why it is important
We should try and resist putting too much faith in popular opinion as a tool for judging the worth of ideas and behaviors. What is good for the majority may not be good for you. Further still, it might not be morally or situationally suitable. People often make harmful decisions when part of a crowd caught in what’s known as a “mob mentality.” When swept away in this group mindset, we end up acting out of character and doing things we may regret afterward.

Judging ideas and behaviors ourselves according to their merit rather than popularity can also develop our critical thinking skills. This process helps us to form unique stances that develop our individual sense of identity. We shouldn’t all be the same. There are many benefits to standing out, such as recognition and pride in our own convictions. Deciding to “hop on the bandwagon” can deter us from gaining these benefits.

How to avoid it
While it is impossible to completely escape the bandwagon effect, we can decrease our reliance on social cues as a driving factor when making influential decisions. We can achieve this first by slowing down our decision-making process. Allowing some time to pass between when we notice social signals and making our final decision can allow for critical thinking and prevent us from quickly adopting a popular idea. Second, try to make choices in an environment where you don't feel pressured by others. Lastly, consider alternative options that go against the majority view. These may prove to be more beneficial or at least mitigate the appeal of automatically accepting the prevailing view.5

Suggested questions:
1.) Do you see any Bandwagon effects in Taiwan? Does that mean Taiwanese people are more of a group persons & enjoy being attached with a group?
2.) Is it good idea to jump on the bandwagon or not? Any advantage or disadvantage in following the main stream opinion in your perspective?
3.) How do you react to the situation when you don't agree with the people on the bandwagon?
4.) Some said the media could be the blame for the unbalance and misjudgement over public issues. What's your take on this?
5.) Is the bandwagon effect more likely to decrease or enhance in the future?
6.) Some agrue that ppl are paying less attention on thinking, and, TV programs seems reflecting it. Do you enjoy what you see on the TV now?

[Julian]

Session II - FOMO

Ben Platt - Fear of Mission Out
I don't fold
I've been working on saying no
Not tryna please a world I can't control
No proof for anybody else

But my pride
Is keeping me awake at night
I'm shutting down and loosing sight
Of what I want for myself
So good at drowning voices out
Lost mine in the crowd

I'm not scared of missing parties, I can step back from the scene
I'm not scared of missing out on photo opportunities
I'm not scared of disappointing all the people I won't see
I'm afraid of holding myself back from who I'm meant to be
I've got the fear of missing out on me

It's so hard
To tell the pressure and desire apart
What comes from them and what's inside my heart?
Who's to say what's best?
Let that be (oh, oh)
All that matters is what's good for me (oh-oh, oh)
If it's instinct, if it's insecurity
It could lead to happiness
Won't know 'til I say yes

I'm not scared of missing parties, I can step back from the scene
I'm not scared of missing out on photo opportunities
I'm not scared of disappointing all the people I won't see
I'm afraid of holding myself back from who I'm meant to be
I've got the fear of missing out on me (oh-oh, oh-oh-oh)
I've got the fear of missing out on me (oh-oh, oh-oh-oh)

Let their voices all ring out
Mine is just as loud

So I'll go out to some parties if that's where I want to be
And I'll take a couple photos just to save a memory
There are people that I'll miss and there are people that I'll see
But not one of them will hold me back from who I'm meant to be
I'll kick the fear of missing out on me
I'll kick the fear of missing out on me

Cited from: https://www.google.com/search?q=ben+pla ... kCegQINxAC

Suggested questions:
1.) Do you have a situation of FOMO(fear of missing out)? What is/are the cause/causes of FOMO in your idea?
2.) Have you ever know someone who shows this issue that could be more extreme? Please share the story if allowed.
3.) Do you think the FOMO could be an problem in our society? Or is it an existing problem in our society now?
4.) Worrying about the loses in future could be common, what is the line between worries and FOMO?
5.) Any tips or personal insight in tackling this problem? Please share with us. Thanks!

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Agenda:
6:45 ~ 7:00pm Greetings & Free Talk / Ordering Beverage or Meal / Getting Newcomer’s Information
7:00 ~ 7:10pm Opening Remarks / Newcomer’s Self-introduction / Grouping
(Session I)
7:10 ~ 7:45pm Discussion Session (35 mins)
7:45 ~ 8:00pm Summarization (15 mins)
8:00 ~ 8:05pm Regrouping / Instruction Giving / Taking a 5 Minutes Break (Intermission)
(Session II)
8:05 ~ 8:40pm Discussion Session (35 mins)
8:40 ~ 8:55pm Summarization (15 mins)
8:55 ~ 9:00pm Concluding Remarks / Announcements

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Meeting Date: As shown on the Subject Line
Meeting Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Meeting Venue: 丹堤咖啡 Dante Coffee (Minimum Order $85)
Address: 台北市濟南路三段25號[MAP]-捷運忠孝新生站3號出口步行3分鐘

Important Notes:
1. We suggest that participants read the articles and think about the questions in advance.
2. Newcomers should prepare a two-to-three-minute self-introduction in English to deliver when called upon by the host before the start of the discussion.
3. We welcome newcomers and other guests to attend the meetings and join the discussion freely for three times. After that, we hope you will consider becoming a YoYo English Club member. We charge a NT$1000 lifetime membership fee, or NT$500 for students.

[Rock]

Wow! Julian is hosting! The topic is great and there is a theme song, too. Are you bringing your guitar so we can sing along with you?

[Rock]

As those baseball players are being hailed as "national heros", it's easy to wonder if bandwagon effect is working on this event. But fomo also works, especially when people may see you as cynical or dull for not joining the celebration. Isn't it a dilemma?

[Luis Ko]

As those baseball players are being hailed as "national heros", it's easy to wonder if bandwagon effect is working on this event. But fomo also works, especially when people may see you as cynical or dull for not joining the celebration. Isn't it a dilemma?

Right, it's definitely a dilemma if people don't have the courage to be disliked.

[Julian]

Wow! Julian is hosting! The topic is great and there is a theme song, too. Are you bringing your guitar so we can sing along with you?

Thanks for all your warm support, Rock. I guess there will be no guitar this time.
However, any blowpipe/musical instrument is welcome and I will try to yield time for you if needed.

As those baseball players are being hailed as "national heros", it's easy to wonder if bandwagon effect is working on this event. But fomo also works, especially when people may see you as cynical or dull for not joining the celebration. Isn't it a dilemma?

Right, it's definitely a dilemma if people don't have the courage to be disliked.

Haha.. How do you guys think? To be or not to be, that is the question.
For me it's not such a hard choice to make, just following your heart.

[miller]

Move to the top.

[Iris Wu]

The term "FOMO" was coined in the early 2000s, but I think the concept is ancient. For each individual, the feeling might have been both innate and nurtured since birth.

From a young age, we have been conditioned to “being naïve” and “being out of touch.” We unconsciously search for “compliance” and “conformity.” We only want to be singled out for positive things that showcase our superiority. At the same time, we avoid feeling inferior because of missing a trend. Many things we do, such as joining certain clubs, learning specific musical instruments, traveling, etc., may all drive us not to "miss the boat."

Whenever we feel the need to leave our “comfort zone,” we might want to examine our true intentions: Are we acting impulsively due to FOMO, or is this driven by genuine motivation?

[Julian]

The term "FOMO" was coined in the early 2000s, but I think the concept is ancient. For each individual, the feeling might have been both innate and nurtured since birth.

From a young age, we have been conditioned to “being naïve” and “being out of touch.” We unconsciously search for “compliance” and “conformity.” We only want to be singled out for positive things that showcase our superiority. At the same time, we avoid feeling inferior because of missing a trend. Many things we do, such as joining certain clubs, learning specific musical instruments, traveling, etc., may all drive us not to "miss the boat."

Whenever we feel the need to leave our “comfort zone,” we might want to examine our true intentions: Are we acting impulsively due to FOMO, or is this driven by genuine motivation?

I personally think the fear of missing out is more from within, because it's a reaction that trying to stick on something that mattered to you. And yes, it can be taught, manipulated by human, but no one can fear for you and decide how do you fear it.

Anyway, thanks for shedding the light, Iris.
And all your participation too my dear Yoyo folks!