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#4: Exploring Media Filter Bubbles

 

Summary: Each internet user creates unique patterns within their user history. These patterns often determine online media consumption by surrounding users with a virtual ‘bubble’ of customized content. Critics theorize that our website preferences and 'likes' on social media platforms often influence what we see online, creating personal customization. These 'bubbles' have the capability to reinforce confirmation bias, limit media exposure of alternative perspectives and views as well as limit our create options.

 

Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to…

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  • identify the theory of filter bubbles and how personal browsing histories have the capability to impact individual media exposure.

  • explore how so-called 'filter bubbles' have the ability to limit the exposure of alternative perspectives, reinforcing confirmation bias.

  • recognize methods to expand and/or alter personal filter bubbles and mass customization.

  • create a media product that demonstrate their understanding of the similarities and differences of news sources.

 

A) 10-15 Minute Overview: Filter Bubbles

 

As web companies strive to tailor their services (including news and search results) to our personal tastes based on our prior choices, likes and preferences. This creates a phenomenon of unintentional selective exposure. The consequence of this practices is that individuals become trapped in a “filter bubble” and are not exposed to information that could challenge or broaden their worldview. In the following TedEd video (9:08), Eli Pariser argues how this may ultimately prove to be unsettling for individuals and potentially dangerous for democracy. After watching the video, answer the following questions.

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  1. According to Eli, what is a filter bubble?

  2. What are the ramifications of filter bubbles?

  3. What are several factors Eli identifies that people need to be be aware of regarding their own media consumption?

 

Source: Eli Pariser; http://ed.ted.com/lessons/beware-online-filter-bubbles-eli-pariser

 

B) 20-30 Minute Activity: Filter bubbles are a result of website algorithms selectively guessing what information users want to see based on information about the user, such as location, past click behavior and search history. As a result, users become separated from information that disagrees with their viewpoints, effectively isolating them in their own cultural or ideological bubbles.

 

Pair & Share: Pair students into groups of two, preferably with a person who differs demographically or ethnically (age, gender, culture, etc.). Each person will need to have access to their own computer, notebook or smart phone. Instruct students to open their Google or Bing Internet browser on their device, then type the same news topic into their search engines. Choose one or two topics that are timely, have been in the news recently, and/or somewhat controversial. For example, President Trump, DACA, immigration, gun control, women’s rights, race relations, etc. Compare the top five search results (not including the ads):

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  1. How do the results differ from each other?

  2. What do the results say about your search history?

Graphic Source: Eli Pariser’s TedTalk.

 

Next, each individual will create a graphic on paper or a blank Word document by following the steps below:

 

Step 1: Create a small circle in the center of a blank page and list the news sources you most commonly use within the circle.

 

Step 2: Create a larger circle around the first circle and list the news sources you have heard of but only occasionally or seldom use in the outer circle.

 

Next, compare answers from Step 1 with your partner. How to they differ? How are they similar?

 

Step 3: Create a third, larger circle around the two previous circles. List news sources that your partner has used or heard of that are either new to you or you have never used. The key is to become aware of new or different news media sources, so it is necessary to consult other people. Compare with your partner, highlighting similar news sources within the circles.

Step 4: Use the highlighted sources from Step 3, combine your answers to create a Venn Diagram using Gliffy.com. Combine with another pair and compare your two circles of trusted news sources that each team uses the most. How to the sources differ? How are they similar? Where do the news sources overlap? Create the Venn diagram and take a screen shot of it to share with the group on the overhead. Highlight the sources you are both familiar with. 

Step 5: Compare the sources that are not highlighted, the sources that are new to each team. Which news sources can you swap with each other to expose yourselves to new information? How can different news sources burst personal filter bubbles? Are there other news sources that are new to each group? How can the two groups and four individuals continue to explore options to burst your filter bubbles?

C) 30-45 Minute Activity: Expanding Personal Filter Bubbles

 

A. In his Ted Talk video (18:20), Theo Wilson discusses the expansion of his personal filter bubble and measure he took to see a different perspective.

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  1. According to Theo, what communication aspects are lacking in online commentary?

  2. What drove Theo to search out alternative viewpoints?

  3. What similar concepts did both speakers offer as suggestions to break or expand our personal filter bubbles?

 

Source: Theo Wilson: https://www.ted.com/talks/theo_e_j_wilson

 

B. Pair up with another individual; compare Facebook advertising feeds or explore how individual Google searches for the same topic present different results.

 

D) 45-60 Minute Activity: Be Aware and Change Your Filter Bubble

 

Now that you know what a filter bubble is, what are some ways to get outside the bubble? You can’t get out of the bubble all the way, but there are several options that can mitigate the effects of the filter bubble: 

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  1. Read news from a variety of news sites 

  2. Be aware of your personal preferences within your social media (like Facebook)

  3. Clear your personal search history

  4. Turn off targeted advertising

  5. Delete browser cookies

  6. Keep your social media data private and hide your birthday

 

A) Examine your Facebook Preferences

 

Your ad preferences are a way to learn why you’re seeing a particular ad, and control how Facebook uses information about you to decide which ads to show you.

 

To view and adjust your ad preferences, go to your Facebook site and do the following:

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  1. Click the or  near the top-right corner of any ad on Facebook.

  2. Select Why am I seeing this?.

 

You’ll see an explanation of why you’re seeing the ad, and you can add or remove yourself from audiences who are shown that ad. Click Manage your ad preferences to see more audiences you’re a part of that influence which ads you see on Facebook. You can also view and adjust your ad preferences here.

 

Changing your ad preferences influences which ads you see, but it won’t change the total number of ads you see. Keep in mind that advertisers sometimes ask Facebook to show similar ads to multiple audiences, or to wide audiences. For example, a company might want to reach people who like sports. If you remove yourself from the audience of people who like football, but not from the audience of people who like basketball, you could still see the company’s ad.

 

Learn more about how Facebook decides which ads to show you and how to give feedback on the ads you see.

 

Note: Facebook always uses information about your age, gender, location and the devices you use to access Facebook when deciding which ads to show you.

 

B) Clear Your Personal Search History

 

Your web history provides Google with a lot of information about you and is used to help determine what results Google gives you. To delete your web history:

  1. Go to Google’s homepage

  2. Click on your username in the top right corner

  3. Click on “Account Settings”

  4. Click on “edit” next to the “My Products” header

  5. Click “Remove Web History Permanently”

 

C) Turn Off Targeted Ads

 

You can turn off targeted advertising at the browser level. Click on the links below to turn off targeted ads for a particular browser.

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You can also tell many ad networks at once that you do not want targeted ads, on the Digital Advertising Alliance Consumer Choice page.

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*Ad companies have the choice to not abide by your requests to not be tracked.

 

D) Delete Your Browser Cookies

 

The first thing to do to mitigate the effects of the filter bubble is to “burn” your cookies. Cookies are data that your web browser stores when you are on a web site. If permission is enabled, other sites can then tell what you were looking at and use that information to determine what to show you next.

 

Click on the links below to learn how to delete your cookies so ad companies can’t use them to personalize ads to you:

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