Over the past decade, it’s become increasingly clear that Big Tech and social media companies are deepening divisions and helping to spread disinformation and extremism. What’s less clear, however, is why they continue to do this.

The simple answer is also the usual one: money. Big Tech companies capitalize on stoking outrage because outrageous content keeps users on their platform longer. This allows them to collect more personal data, which they in turn sell to advertisers, who then run hyper-targeted ads.

In other words, online advertising provides a financial incentive for tech companies to allow dangerous ideologies to spread -- even when these online conversations spill over into real-life violence.

To better understand how targeted online ads impact everyday users, we’re asking our supporters to take a brief survey about their experience.

Until we identify and address the incentives leading technology companies to serve as incubators for extremism, we will continue to see online platforms used for these purposes. Take our survey now to share your insight on the role online advertising plays in users’ daily lives.

-- The Accountable Tech Research Team