Breaking the echo-chamber effect via consent

Abstract Echo chambers in social media are widely regarded as a significant contributor to polarization. Existing approaches to mitigating this phenomenon typically rely on either platform-level algorithmic changes or regulatory interventions that risk undermining user autonomy and privacy. We propose a consent-driven regulatory framework that preserves both values while enabling meaningful reductions in echo-chamber dynamics. The core of our proposal is an opt-in mechanism that allows a subset of users to voluntarily grant the regulator permission to introduce diverse perspectives into their information feeds. To evaluate this approach, we developed an extended social media spreading model that incorporates platform algorithms, regulatory interventions, and a user response function driven by individual opinions, friendship, and message virality. Simulations conducted on real-world data and synthetic topologies demonstrate that even a minimal level of participation, as low as 1% of the message recipients, can significantly enhance the reach of cross-group messages across the entire network. Within the constraints of our model, this improvement in exposure diversity is achieved without reinforcing intra-group amplification or violating the core normative principles of user autonomy and informational privacy. These findings highlight the role of consenting, curious users to act as a social bridge to foster a healthier public dialogue in digital spaces.