Eli Pariser and Sue Halpern discuss important concerns pertaining to internet use and its ability to isolate us into this filter bubble. The information that was once universal and accessible is no longer available for us to see. We should have the right to individually decide what gets tailored or not; it should be our choice not anyone or anything else’s. I agree with Pariser when he says that a democracy cannot function properly if its citizens are not exposed to a “good flow of information.” Needless to say, how can we grow as intellectuals if there is this hindrance preventing us from absorbing new and different ideas that can broaden our outlook on life and humanity? I feel that implementing algorithms to personalize and better our search process is a creative and smart idea but too much personalization blocks us from learning and developing new ideas. With such a personalized web, we have our own ideas thrown back at us and hence, we do not get to explore new ideas or read the ideas and opinions of the dissenting party.
Conversely, Clive Thompson discusses how this phenomenon (homophily) can actually be a good thing and can improve the “diversity of our information diet.” Further, he mentions that sticking with “like-minded” people can actually be more beneficial than we think because it is our closest friends who know what we already know and would know what may be new information to us. According to information economists, Sinan Aral and Marshall Van Alstyne, interacting with a small group of close friends can be useful in that it can provide us with valuable and surprising information. In short, sticking with “our kind” actually may not be such a bad thing. It is true that unlike weak ties your close friends know you best and would know what information is new to you. Moreover, one does not have sufficient interaction with weak ties to constantly obtain new information. Nonetheless, we shouldn’t stop from having “weak” relationships because this may help us in the long run and can provide us with much more useful information than our closest friends can. At the end, I think it is smart to maintain a relationship with both your close friends and weak ties.
Completely stole my title. Hahahaha, but you have better material.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on the fact that we should have a choice in whether our internet should be personalized or not. But on the other hand, wouldn't it make your life a lot easier by cutting down the time you spend on searching for things that pertains to your interest?
I also agree with you, we cannot grow and form new ideas and opinions if we are trapped in filter bubbles. The information on filter bubbles was very interesting, I always thought that if we all search the same terms we would get the same results, as it turns out, we don't. Qi Kun also made an excellent point, filter bubbles can save us time. Eventually we are searching for subjects that interest us, why not simplify our search?
ReplyDeleteThanks for comments! :) As I mentioned above, I think personalizing our search results is a good idea but TOO much personalization can adversely affect our ability to grow intellectually.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this. Personalizing to a point is fine, when when it goes too much, and without our consent, then you are limited to what you can learn and won't have a broader knowledge and perspective. But I also agree with how it prevents us from having weak relationships.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this blog. I believe that personalizing our searches only isolates us from being exposed to different ideas. It takes away the chance of getting exposed to two different sides to one issue or topic. There is no point in only reading things that reinforce our own believes.
ReplyDeleteBy: Marianela Torres