Filter Bubbles

Bias in information sources goes hand-in-hand with algorithms. For example, if we tend to favor certain news sources, algorithms will recognize that -- our Google searches may begin showing those news sources more frequently in our search results, we may see articles from those sources pop up in our social media feeds, and we may even see recommendations for other similar news sources. This is because algorithms are designed to filter, sort, and personalize information in an attempt to provide content that is relevant to our interests, based on, for example, our search histories and patterns of past online activities. This type of algorithmic personalization may actually distort, manipulate, and amplify our own worldviews by creating so-called “filter bubbles” that limit our exposure to outside perspectives.

Roger McNamee, an early Facebook investor-turned-critic, considers filter bubbles to be “the most important tool used by Facebook and Google to hold user attention” because they lead to an “unending stream of posts that confirm each user’s existing beliefs.” The result is polarization: “Everyone sees a different version of the internet tailored to create the illusion that everyone else agrees with them.” Further, this “continuous reinforcement of existing beliefs tends to entrench those beliefs more deeply, while also making them more extreme and resistant to contrary facts.”

For an explanation of this problem, watch Eli Pariser’s “Filter Bubbles” TED Talk [8:49], based on his influential 2011 book of the same name:

Sources

“Beware Online ‘Filter Bubbles’: Eli Pariser Links to an external site.” by TED Links to an external site. is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Links to an external site.

This page "Filter Bubbles" by Kaela Casey is  licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License and is a derivative of "Filter Bubbles Links to an external site." from Introduction to College Research by Walter D. Butler, Aloha Sargent, and Kelsey Smith  licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License,  published by Pressbooks.