Social Biases
Third-person effect
Thinking media affects others more than it affects you.
What Is Third-person effect?
Third-person effect is a thinking trap where thinking media affects others more than it affects you.
How It Tricks You
It can turn partial social evidence into a confident judgment about people, motives, or groups.
Real-World Example
A person says ads influence other people, not them.
Seen Online As
- The fast interpretation is doing more work than the evidence.
- The claim feels obvious before the check question is asked.
- A shortcut is making the judgment feel more certain than it is.
What To Ask Instead
How might this influence me too?
Related Thinking Traps
Common Situations
Quick FAQ
What is Third-person effect?
Thinking media affects others more than it affects you.
What is an example of Third-person effect?
A person says ads influence other people, not them.
How do I spot Third-person effect?
How might this influence me too?