Internet Bubble Threat

While the Internet allows me to connect with you, it also limits what I get to see. 

How? By analyzing  what I am looking for, accumulating my preferences and measuring data that the system has decided I like?

Eli Pariser, author of "The Filter Bubble: What the Internet Is Hiding from You" explains the dangers of what we see quite well in his book. 

I've tested this theory thoroughly as I teach Internet research skills all over the country. I draw from my background as a former newspaper investigative reporter and  my career as a research director for a company called Gartner Inc., a global  technology advising company. 

Many may not be aware that their preferences---specifically political preferences--are being measured, analyzed and parsed.

Test this yourself: In the subject line of your browser, key in the country "Afghanistan", say in Google or Firefox. See what comes back to you.

Find a friend or relative somewhere else in the U.S. that has different political preferences, ask them to do the same using the same browser. Ask them to share their results with you.

It is important to choose someone who is NOT part of Global Tolerance. Truly try to find a family member or friend that really has different opinions from your own. 

The bottom line here is that although we think we are getting unbiased, clean information from the Internet, we are not. We may as well be reading biased newspapers, listening to left or right-wing radio in that the "Filter Bubble" is deciding for us what we want to see?

So, how can you and I break free from these filters? It isn't easy, but there are some tips that may help. 

Try shifting your browser from the United States, if this is where you live, and go to the Canadian, French or German versions and search for a particular topic. For example, I live in Northern California and say I'm on Internet Explorer and Google. Instead of my standard search I may try www.google.co.uk, www.msn.co.uk, or www.Ask.com.uk. Or www.google.co.fr. 

Another tip is use Internet Search Strings. Basically, when searching and defining your search, you use some of the Boolean methods by putting quotation marks around phrases or sticking in a "+" or "and" in the phrase. Such as Afghanistan + France + military. This may reach out to more information than just Afghanistan and military. The search may break into France's relationship with Afghanistan and the French military. 

Whatever method you use, my point is that decisions about what you see are not clean. The Internet is not unbiased. Once you are aware of this you are in a better position to break out of the Bubble and use tools and tips to find less biased and clean information outside of your own "Bubble."