I'll begin with some observations I have witnessed of late...
If you know that Qatar offered to gift a plane to the US, but do not know that in fact it is not a gift to the US (it is for the use of the currently sitting President and at the end of his term, ownership will shift to his presidential library, never being used by any future president), you need to open up your algorithm - you are being manipulated.
If you know that the US is paying for transport for a group of white South African "refugees" to be brought to America and fast-tracked to legal status to be here, but you do not know that this same administration has cancelled a promise to Afghan refugees (who aided American soldiers) to provide safe haven and a path to legal status, forcing them back to a country where they will likely be persecuted and/or killed, you need to open up your algorithm - you are being manipulated.
If you know that this administration is deporting "millions" of violent criminals that are here illegally, but do not know of the many (MANY) that have been deported without due process, without breaking any laws, that are here legally and following the path they were placed on by our immigration system, you need to open up your algorithm -- you are being manipulated.
I could go on for a long time with examples of this. And I feel confident that you could give me some examples of things "liberals" are being manipulated with. Because the truth is that to some degree, social media WILL manipulate all of us. We can do a few things to mitigate the damage it means to do, but it takes active participation to fight against it.
A few things I've learned that have helped me in this arena:
1. I deliberately follow folks I often disagree with. Now, let me be clear -- I do not follow people that peddle in fear and misinformation. But I do follow people that are both more conservative than I am and more progressive than I am, but they DO care about truth and integrity and do not peddle in outrage.
2. I follow a variety of news outlets. Again, not rags that promote hate and fear and conspiracies. But from center, lean right and lean left that work hard to report truth, being honest about their own bias and that work to be nonpartisan. Sometimes I'm grumbling while I listen because I want them to be angry or I want them to be proven wrong, right there on the air. But I listen.
These first two will open up your algorithm -- it'll confuse it just a bit and give you some news outlets and reputable folks that might just help you open up your mind a smidge or hear another side of a story before you hit "post" on something that is not true or get into a knock-down-drag-out with someone while the cards you hold are turning to ash in your hands.
3. I double check everything before I post it or even allow myself to become irrationally angry about it. It's not hard to drill down just a little way and figure out if something has been taken out of context to support a particular view. All sides are prone to this behavior, and it only makes the dumpster fire we live in worse - no matter which side it's coming from.
4. I work hard to not fear or hate or disregard people and opinions that I disagree with. Simply hearing an opinion I disagree with will not hurt me. Being curious about where someone's perspective is coming from will not hurt me. Listening to someone, hearing them out will not hurt me. It does not mean I have to agree with them or that I become complicit. (Now please do not hear what I'm NOT saying -- I am not saying we have to listen to hate speech or harmful conspiracy theories. I am not saying we tolerate disrespect or contempt. I am NOT saying that people in marginalized groups should listen to someone berate them or those they love. Absolutely not.) I am in a relatively safe group - white, straight, middle class -- I can handle having uncomfortable conversations with people that are willing to have an open, reciprocal conversation that embodies respect and curiosity. I can leverage my privilege to have uncomfortable conversations that might end up making the lives of those I love better.
5. Always, always, ALWAYS be committed to truth - even when it makes me uncomfortable - even when it disrupts the point I want to make - even when it scares me that I might just be wrong on some point - even when my cognitive bias is screaming for me to stop listening.
6. Do not sacrifice humanity and integrity on the altar of being right. If we become inhumane because this is "too important" to play fair, then we become like the very thing we hate. If we lose our compassion and empathy for ANY group or person, we're no better than those we see doing harm.
7. Shut off your phone or your computer. Walk away from them. Sit down at a table with some really good food or go for a walk and talk to real people - people like you that will strengthen and encourage you and people not exactly like you that will keep you sharp and empathetic at the same time.
This is a marathon, not a sprint - it will not be won with hate, lies, inhumanity and screaming into the void. And if you are a Christ follower, I'll remind you - we're not here to "win" at all - we are here to be faithful to the way of Jesus.
No matter what.