Filter Bubbles: How algorithms distort our reality

Did you ever notice how all the information/news we consume on the internet always aligns with our ideologies and worldviews? Does that mean that our worldview on things aligns with the global worldview? Or do you think, we live in a time where our worldviews are bang-on? It’s none of the above, and it would be naive to dismiss it off as plain coincidences.

All of these interactions and experiences have been tailored to ensure that we spend more and more time on these online platforms. A pro-government person will get more of pro-govt. news and an anti-establishment person will receive more of anti-govt news that reinforces their respective beliefs and opinions. The irony of this situation is that both of them would have consumed news using the same news aggregator application. These news or social media apps will serve the articles that are more suited to the user’s tastes and is more likely to get clicked on.

This phenomenon of delivering content based on their individual preferences is called the “filter bubble.” The filter bubble ensures that people are surrounded by beliefs and worldviews that they agree with, and do not get access to opposing perspectives. This, in my opinion, is extremely dangerous because it hampers one’s ability to make balanced decisions.

Have you ever experienced the filter bubble algorithm in any of the platforms you’ve used? Please do share your thoughts & experiences below.