Notes Engleza

Filter bubbles refer to the intellectual isolation that occurs when websites use algorithms to selectively show users information based on what they have clicked on and viewed in the past. This creates a narrow information bubble around the user that only reinforces their existing views and prevents exposure to opposing viewpoints. Eli Pariser first defined the concept in 2011 and warned that these bubbles polarize opinions and threaten democracy by dividing people and enabling the spread of misinformation. While filter bubbles form unintentionally due to algorithms, echo chambers are the result of intentionally seeking out only information we agree with. Education is needed to increase awareness of filter bubbles and their effects, and individuals have a role to play in customizing settings and seeking a more balanced range of information online.

Uploaded by

sandralovescupcakes

We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.

Available Formats

Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

0% found this document useful (0 votes)

31 views2 pages

Notes Engleza

Uploaded by

sandralovescupcakes

We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.

Available Formats

Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

You are on page 1/ 2

Filter Bubbles

Slide 1 – Today I will talk to you about Filter Bubbles, a modern concept that makes
reference to the circumstances under which our online activity ends up being restricted to
a limited space where everything we encounter seems to ratify our views.

Slide 2 – A filter bubble is the intellectual isolation that can occur when websites make
use of algorithms to selectively assume the information a user would want to see, and
then give information to the user according to this assumption. These algorithms learn
who we are and create our filter bubble based on what we click on and how long we
spend looking at particular content. Have you ever felt like the Internet knows everything
about you? Your desires, your needs, your concerns? That’s exactly how it works!

Slide 3 – Filter bubbles are spread all over the internet. We can see them during our
Google search, we can see them while doing online shopping on Amazon. They also
occur on our Facebook news feed.

Slide 4 – Eli Pariser, an Internet activist, was the first to define the concept back in 2011.
He says that at first the Internet meant a connection to the world, something that brings
everyone together, but he continues saying these filter bubbles can and will negatively
affect society, because algorithms are confining people to their small bubble of
information, and polarizing their opinions.

Slide 5 – Now we’ll proceed to the biggest problem that the filter bubbles pose.
Unfortunately, they create an informational barrier around people that prevents them
from seeing opposing viewpoints. They give people the impression that their narrow self-
interest is all that exists. Furthermore, when individuals on both sides of an issue only see
their side of an argument, a solution will never be reached. This creates a very deep
divide between people. Filter bubbles are invisible. Evil, right? This way, people don’t
realize that they are seeing different things about the same topic than everyone else. This
leads them to believe they must be right. All they see is their side. Can we blame them for
assuming everyone else is seeing that too?
Slide 6 – What makes filter bubbles different than echo chambers? I would say
everything. An echo chambers is what might happen when we are overexposed to news
that we like or agree with. They tend to make us think there is only one picture of reality.
We see too much of one side and not enough of the other. Filter bubbles have nothing to
do about it. They just automatically filter out what we don’t like and what we disagree
with. While echo chambers could be a result of filtering, filter bubbles must be the result
of algorithms.

Slide 7 – Pariser concluded that the negative effects of filter bubbles are affecting
democracy. How come? Democracy gives power to the people by emphasizing with the
majority. Filter bubbles only divide them. For the democracy to be an effective system,
each person needs to be well informed and to be able to have critical discussions.
Democracy is threatened because of how easy it is for misinformation to be spread and
believed.

Slide 8 – Now that we know how filter bubbles work and how they affect our existence,
we become aware of ways to overcome this problem. First, education is crucial to this
issue. One of the biggest problems with filter bubbles is people don’t realize they are in
them, thus if awareness can be brought to them through education that would help
decrease filter bubbles negative effects. It’s incredibly important to teach people to seek
out knowledge, how to research issues, and that not everything online is true. Finally,
everyone has a responsibility for breaking out their own personal filter bubbles. By
simply turning off customization features and targeted ads on websites, we can limit the
effect that algorithms have on our content.

Slide 9 – Filter bubbles are a solvable issue, but they have many negative effects.
Democracy and the relationships individuals form with others will be affected if no
action is taken. Online, we need to cultivate a learning exchange, rather than promoting
our own ideas. We each have a role in this issue, and in the long run, we can fight for
algorithms to be reprogrammed to give a more balanced flow of information. For now, it
is important for each person to realize the profound effects that polarization has and try to
break free of our filter bubbles.

Slide 10 – I would like to thank you for paying attention to my presentation and I hope
that I brought you valuable knowledge concerning this modern problem that filter
bubbles pose.