Why you need to get out of the information bubble ASAP

What is an information bubble

An information bubble, or a bubble of filters, is a space where only the information that corresponds to his views and interests is available to a person.

This concept was coined in 2011 by Internet activist Eli Pariser and described in book “Behind the filter wall. What is the internet hiding from you? Pariser thinksthat search engines are responsible for the bubbles and social media, which analyze the personal data and actions of each user so that people receive useful information and spend more time on the Web.

Why do people fall into information bubbles?

Not only Internet algorithms are to blame for the spread of filter bubbles, but also our brains.

Due to algorithms

As we have already said, the personalization features of search engines and social networks narrow down the available content. By words Pariser, they create a "unique information universe" for each of us. Program codes of search engines and social networks give us only what they think we want to see.

Pariser leads quote Mark Zuckerberg to prove his claims: "A squirrel dying outside your window may be more relevant to your interests at the moment than people dying in Africa."

As a result, users get one picture of the world and lose other points of view.

Due to social circle

Senior Lecturers in Applied Linguistics Philip Sergeant and Caroline Tagg figured outthat people tend to block users and unfollow communities with the opposite point of view.

At the same time, the experience of the Director of Data Labs of the Pew Research Center Aaron Smith showedthat 57% of respondents consider it normal that their data is used to recommend new friends on social networks.

In general, we exclude people from our social circle, dissenters with us in anything, and let like-minded people into it.

Because of the choice

The Pariser theory is refuted by the researcher Axel Ekström. He thinksIt is not the fault of the algorithms that users themselves choose websites that they trust more. Ekström refers to this phenomenon as "self-imposed filter bubbles" or "selective attention".

Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Human Development and the University of Amsterdam modeled bubbles for specific people and “thrown” into them information that contradicted the beliefs of the subjects. Experience has shown that people are more likely to listen to opinions that support their own views.

This is how our brain saves resources: after all, there is so much new information around us that it is simply impossible to process it all. That is why there are cognitive distortions.

How does the information bubble affect us?

We read news on our favorite telegram channels, watch memes on our favorite public pages, and listen to our favorite podcasts. It would seem that we are surrounded by comfort and tranquility, what's wrong with that? However, the price of such convenience is eternal wanderings in the matrix.

We lose the ability to think critically

There is so much information on the Internet that matches our beliefs that it only reinforces them. The bubble of filters in the browser and social networks imprisons us in echo chambers - abstract rooms where an invisible voice repeats the same thought. There are people who share our views and values. And it doesn't matter if these beliefs are true, we still consider them to be the only true ones.

University of Utah Department of History and Political Science Professor Samuel K. Rhodes offered Democrats and Republicans to read 10 completely or half fake political stories. Participants who received the information deceitful, but those who supported their views, considered them true.

Blind faith in the correctness of only one's position prevents us from thinking critically and objectively assessing what is happening.

We do not listen to interlocutors

More than a half Internet users make accusations or start disputeswithout waiting for the arguments of the interlocutor and the appearance of real facts. We vehemently defend our point of view and refuse to hear opposing judgments. As a result, unproductive conflicts spoil our relationships with others, limit our horizons and affect on mental health.

We are more worried

We find it hard to brush aside what we sincerely believe. Giving up your values ​​can completely turn our picture of the world upside down.

Meanwhile, by opinion Pariser, the presence of an information bubble makes people feel anxiety. This judgment confirms Pew Research Center survey. 71% of Internet users surveyed admitted that "uncomfortable" content makes them feel angry, and 49% noted the appearance of sadness and feelings of loneliness.

We become victims of deceit

Sticking to only one position, you can be deceived. The fact that people lose their ability to think critically and end up in echo chambers plays into the hands of scammers. Unscrupulous content makers enjoy gullibility of the victims and inspire them with their ideology.

How to get out of the information bubble

To get out of the bubble, you have to open up to new things and change your lifestyle.

Turn off social media content filtering

Smart feed in VKontakte, for example, is activated by default for all users. To turn it off, go to the "News" section and in the "Interesting first" column, move the slider to the left.

Like not only significant posts, but also memes about hamsters or new avatars of friends. So you confuse the algorithms even more.

Stop personalizing search engines

In settings Google account go to the "Data and privacy" section. In the “What have you done and where have you been” section, uncheck the options “History saving settings”, “Personalized ads” and “Personalized search results”.

Repeat the same in Yandex. In the "Settings" there is a section "Search" - there you need to uncheck all the boxes.

Go beyond social media

Read news only in social networks and instant messengers it is convenient, but this way we get too limited information. Use aggregators like Rambler or Google News, where dozens or hundreds of sites talk about events. This will not help to completely get rid of the bubble, but will reduce the influence of large organizations.

Find information differently

Computer Network Specialist Russ White notesthat the use of one search engine loops us in an endless algorithm. So it is better to drive queries into different search engines. Each of them will produce different results, and the user will get more information.

Try to change the wording - constantly add new clarifications to them. For example, the first query might be “winter dry hands”, and the last one might be “moisturizing hands in winter is the best cream”. Don't forget to look at the second search page as well, you might find something useful there too.

Develop critical thinking

Important do not believe everything that habitual sources report, check information, take into account different opinions and be interested in the outside world. Reflect on the structure of your thoughts in order to identify possible delusions. Do not forget about empathy - the human factor also helps to think critically.

Learn to analyze information: observe, collect and evaluate evidence. Only this will help to objectively look at the situation.

Don't reject friends with opposing views

When we stop communicating with a person of other views, we remove him from friends on social networks, then we enclose ourselves in an echo chamber and reduce the chances of getting out of it. So think twice before blacklisting your opponent.

Communicate, don't argue

Do not attack interlocutors. Be polite, argue your position and treat others with respect. Try to hear and understand the other, look at the world through his eyes. Do not be afraid that for this you will have to betray your beliefs.

Diversify your bubble

Subscribe to those bloggers and media who take the opposite position. This way you can recognize different interpretations of the same news. Do not forget about foreign sources - they also help to study the issue from all sides.

Stop fooling yourself

When we deceive ourselves, our brain denies the facts, justifies inaction and makes us believe in a different reality. If you notice that you are overgeneralizing any judgments or overreacting to various situations, then slow down. Stop thinking and let your brain rest, look at your truth with different eyes.

Accept things as they are, not as you want them to be. Think more about your feelings and question expressive responses. For example, before writing an angry and offensive comment, think twice if it's worth it.

Check information

Even those sources of information that we trust can be wrong. For example, in 2014 in the USA registered 23 measles outbreaks. And the parents are largely to blame here, who believed the anti-vaccinationists and were afraid vaccinate their children. The same thing happened with the coronavirus.