Bolg 3: Filter Bubbles

I never realized how much our search engines impact what we are looking at. I knew that they were starting to become more personalized, but after watching the TEDtalk where Eli Pariser's discusses how filter bubbles are shaping online interactions and space, it got me thinking. It really became clear to me how much the filter bubble does differientate between different users based on what the search engine thinks the user would want to see. I find this unfair and very tacticle. I believe in the beginning search engines such as google and yahoo probably meant for the intention to be a helpful tactic, but like most ways dealt in the United States they took the idea to a whole other level. The filter bubble may be trying to show the user what it thinks it would want to see, but there is a huge chance the user doesn't get provided for what they are looking for. In a self selected filter bubble, such as wearing headphones in a crowd, the indiviudal is making the choice to seperate themselves with what is going on around them. The online filter bubble doesn't let the user make the choice of what they want to see, instead they are editing things out. Advertisements and marketing have been using the "personalized tactics" for a while now. Notice that when you are on your social media, or any site for that matter, the advertisements on the pages correlate exactly with what you have been looking at previously or things that relate to you in some way. I think that is why Pariser is telling us to "beware". Every host is starting to sweeping the web with personalizations. We are moving into the world where the internet is showing us "what it thinks we want to see, but not necessarily what we need to see." There is important information and knowledge that were are failing to recieve because of our filter bubble. We are getting our own unique information from online, but we don't decide what gets in and we dont see what is getting edited out. People are being manipulated for their freedom to roam the internet about anything they want, not just what the filter bubble wants to show you. The filter bubble algorithm does not have "embedded ethics" as Eli shares.. They are not keyed to relevance and do not challenge our ideas. People need a good flow of information and control on the internet. The internet should be introducing us to new perspectives and ideas, but if we are isolated we don't get the opportunity to connect with our world and the people in it.

 As a single individual there is not a lot I can do to ameliorate filter bubbles. I think that if everyone were more knowledgeable about filter bubbles then it would be more impactful. As individuals people could start looking up things more broader relative, and more unlike themselves to maybe get more range of choices. On a group scale, if people complained enough about filter bubbles to where search engines would realize how they could be troubling, then they might stop making them so personalized and be how they use to be.

The internet is our virtual campfire in which we hear the stories and information that help us shape our own personal views and beliefs and connect with others. Today, instead of gathering around a campfire, we gather around televisions, cellphones, and laptops. Our time together is now spent with technology instead of a campfire, and living in a world through technology. We are receiving information mainly through technology instead of the old days, where we read books and heard things orally. It is out new communication system, and we should not be given tailored information to enable our minds of new ideas and knowledge.

The filter bubble definitely fits into the digital divide we discussed in class. The algorithm could edit out certain people on your social networking, forcing you to only interact with certain groups or people the online host wants you to. If only people are interacting with those similar to them, then that can pose a huge diverse issue. We need to be open to new people, perspectives, and ideas but based off the filter bubble we are limited to being diverse, and the more diverse and willingness to take in all sides and people, the better!