when you go to a website you may think
you're getting the same content as
everyone else but almost anywhere you go
online algorithms will keep track of
what you like to click on those
algorithms will give you content based
on what they think you like and they
will continue to do so until they're
mainly showing you content you'll likely
consume when you first think about
algorithms personalizing and curating
your online experience it can sound like
a good thing there is so much
information online and even if you had
all the time in the world you still
couldn't consume it all each of us has
specific interests so why not focus on
content we'll probably like the problem
is that these algorithms can put you in
something called a filter bubble a term
coined by internet activist Eli Pariser
being in a filter bubble means that
algorithms have isolated you from info
and perspectives that you haven't
already expressed an interest in meaning
you may miss out on important
information for instance a social media
site may hide posts from friends with
different viewpoints or a new site may
display articles that it thinks you'll
agree with you may not even realize
you're in a filter bubble because these
algorithms don't ask for your permission
tell you when they're active or say what
they're keeping from you in fact they've
become a part of the Internet as a whole
and if you want to go online avoiding
them is almost impossible once everyone
gets stuck in their own bubble the
problem only gets worse if everyone is
confident they're getting the full story
on a current event when they're really
only getting part of it no one can make
an educated judgement and it becomes
difficult to have a meaningful
discussion about the facts this is why
filter bubbles contribute to a lack of
understanding and an unwillingness to
consider opposing viewpoints and
unfavorable info so how do we deal with
these algorithms especially since
they're so common and how do we make
sure we're hearing other viewpoints when
we don't even know what we're missing
companies like Google and Facebook are
working on the problem
but for now there is no definitive
solution until then keep filter bubbles
in mind as you browse the Internet and
try to seek out new sources and
perspectives hopefully then you'll be
able to take back some control of your
online experience GCF global creating
opportunities for a better life