Echo chamber dynamics on social media

Research on echo chambers has produced mixed support for the “echo chamber hypothesis,” partly because this complex phenomenon cannot be reduced to a single testable claim. To move the field forward, it is necessary to examine its internal dynamics. Building on a teleological reading of prior research, this article theorizes an integrative framework that distinguishes between endogenous media aspects and exogenous meddling in social media’s information flows. This analytical move sharpens the boundaries between echo chambers and the social dynamics of online communities, and accounts for the amplification of polarizing political narratives. The outcome is a socio-technical framework divided into three stages: ignition, where provocative content triggers an insular community; amplification, where algorithmic and networked distribution accelerates reach; stabilization, where institutions normalize the narrative in a broader audience. It concludes with premises for future research linking echo chambers to hybrid threats, disinformation, and monetization dynamics in the creator economy.