Bubble Filters

[Wayout]

Search the Internet?  The results you're getting are not what you think.

http://wimp.com/filterbubbles/ 

[Nefarious]

Interesting vid, thanks!

[gyrene81]

very interesting...been noticing some of that happening over the last 5 years more and more.

[Bodhi]

Yep.  What's really going to scare you is that this isn't a random algorithm, it is planned.

[dedalos]

Well, it maybe bad when looking for news randomly (like in his example by just typing Egypt).   However, it does not stop anyone from taking the time to type a couple of extra words to find what they are looking for.  Example:  Crisis in Egypt.  Those three words would have given you the information you were looking for with no problems, but then this guy would not have a presentation to make.  Just like everything else, it is a tool.  If used right it helps (i ll give you an example next).  If you just type "Greece" and you got tourist info instead of the economical news on it, "YOU" used the tool incorrectly but it did try to do the best it could to bring you some results.  Try "Greece economy".  One extra word and things are not so scary anymore.  But again, no presentation to make.

Now, how does it help?  I do a lot of searches related to Java, C++, and financial calculations for example.  Because of the information gathered from my searches, I can just type a couple of words and the results produced are almost always right on.  Imagine having to search for something technical that you don;t know the name of.  How would you do it?  Because of the filters though, I can just type Java and one more word and the results I will get will be tailored to the financial industry or at list stuff I have been playing around with.

This is another case of conspiracy theories from people that are just refusing to understand how technology can help them while their VCR is flashing 12:00  for the past 10 years.  But they do have purchased DVD re-winders.   Thankfully, there is always someone to take advantage of peoples fears and make some cool videos.

[Reschke]

For a minute there I thought the OP was referring to the album from the band Bubble Puppy.....MAN I need to pull out the old vinyl album and listen to that again!

[Nefarious]

Well, it maybe bad when looking for news randomly (like in his example by just typing Egypt).   However, it does not stop anyone from taking the time to type a couple of extra words to find what they are looking for.  Example:  Crisis in Egypt.  Those three words would have given you the information you were looking for with no problems, but then this guy would not have a presentation to make.  Just like everything else, it is a tool.  If used right it helps (i ll give you an example next).  If you just type "Greece" and you got tourist info instead of the economical news on it, "YOU" used the tool incorrectly but it did try to do the best it could to bring you some results.  Try "Greece economy".  One extra word and things are not so scary anymore.  But again, no presentation to make.

Now, how does it help?  I do a lot of searches related to Java, C++, and financial calculations for example.  Because of the information gathered from my searches, I can just type a couple of words and the results produced are almost always right on.  Imagine having to search for something technical that you don;t know the name of.  How would you do it?  Because of the filters though, I can just type Java and one more word and the results I will get will be tailored to the financial industry or at list stuff I have been playing around with.

This is another case of conspiracy theories from people that are just refusing to understand how technology can help them while their VCR is flashing 12:00  for the past 10 years.  But they do have purchased DVD re-winders.   Thankfully, there is always someone to take advantage of peoples fears and make some cool videos.

Sure that works for Google or search engines, but what about Social Media sites like FB that he mentions is moderating what people post?

[dedalos]

Sure that works for Google or search engines, but what about Social Media sites like FB that he mentions is moderating what people post?

Those are privately owned.  Use of them is a choice.  They are multimillion $$$ operations (should I say billion) that need to be financed some how in order to be free for us.  Of coarse they will do anything they can to make a dollar.  I don;t understand why we act like we own stuff on the net.  If we payed for these services then it would be a different deal.

Back to that movie though, the guy opens up by using an example of two guys typing Egypt on a browser and being amazed that different people got dif results.  Then somehow he relates that to freedom of information and the internet.  He is completely off base here since typing "Egypt News" would have given both of them what they wanted.  Instead, he made this some kind of conspiracy to hide informatio9n from us.  Posters followed right away explaining that it is scary because the search algos are like that by design.  Well, duh 

The net is free and unrestricted.  All you got to do is write your own  browser and search engine. 

[PFactorDave]

I didn't have time to watch it all the way through...  What is it that this guy is selling?

[Yossarian]

I didn't have time to watch it all the way through...  What is it that this guy is selling?

His own book

[PFactorDave]

His own book

I knew he had to be selling something.

[Yossarian]

Well, it maybe bad when looking for news randomly (like in his example by just typing Egypt).   However, it does not stop anyone from taking the time to type a couple of extra words to find what they are looking for.  Example:  Crisis in Egypt.  Those three words would have given you the information you were looking for with no problems, but then this guy would not have a presentation to make.  Just like everything else, it is a tool.  If used right it helps (i ll give you an example next).  If you just type "Greece" and you got tourist info instead of the economical news on it, "YOU" used the tool incorrectly but it did try to do the best it could to bring you some results.  Try "Greece economy".  One extra word and things are not so scary anymore.  But again, no presentation to make.

Now, how does it help?  I do a lot of searches related to Java, C++, and financial calculations for example.  Because of the information gathered from my searches, I can just type a couple of words and the results produced are almost always right on.  Imagine having to search for something technical that you don;t know the name of.  How would you do it?  Because of the filters though, I can just type Java and one more word and the results I will get will be tailored to the financial industry or at list stuff I have been playing around with.

This is another case of conspiracy theories from people that are just refusing to understand how technology can help them while their VCR is flashing 12:00  for the past 10 years.  But they do have purchased DVD re-winders.   Thankfully, there is always someone to take advantage of peoples fears and make some cool videos.

Agreed.

Also, I think if a person is relying exclusively on Google or Facebook to get their news, they're doing it wrong.

[Nefarious]

I understand your points and agree with what your saying, but don't you think the idea of censoring posts on FB because of the information contained therein might conflict with another persons interest is just bad business?

I joined to stay connected to my friends, no matter what they believe or crazy stuff they may post. Doesn't seem like censorship would be a sustainable practice in a social media website like FB. But I guess Zuckerbergs profits prove otherwise huh?  

What do you think about Google collecting personal information from WIFI networks during their Google Street View Mapping? They provide a free service of Google Maps & Earth, does this entitle them to mine info off unprotected WIFI networks?

[Motherland]

I understand your points and agree with what your saying, but don't you think the idea of censoring posts on FB because of the information contained therein might conflict with another persons interest is just bad business?

I joined to stay connected to my friends, no matter what they believe or crazy stuff they may post. Doesn't seem like censorship would be a sustainable practice in a social media website like FB. But I guess Zuckerbergs profits prove otherwise huh? 

What do you think about Google collecting personal information from WIFI networks during their Google Street View Mapping? They provide a free service of Google Maps & Earth, does this entitle them to mine info off unprotected WIFI networks?

Censorship is a bad word for it. There's tons of stuff that goes through your Facebook Newsfeed, not all of it is shown because that would just be information overload. Facebook gives preference to showing things that you show patterns of interacting with (taking interest in), to give you the most relevant feed it can. You get more status updates etc. from people you interact with on a regular basis, it's just Facebook's way of making the site easier to use. What happens is that the guy doesn't click on the links, doesn't talk to those people, and generally doesn't show any interest to them to Facebook and so Facebook just thinks he doesn't care about them, and that it's pointless to show them. They're not trying to keep his eyes closed to other viewpoints, he just doesn't care about them so they're just phased out.

Saying this is censorship is like saying American TV is censored because Al Jazeera, BBC News, RT etc. aren't easily available in the cheapest packages, you either have to get the super-mega packages or order them for yourself. Most Americans simply aren't going to take much interest in those channels so they're not given priority.

[Nefarious]

Good post, thanks Motherland. I could see how this could be a logistics nightmare for Facebook. I also understand when you say most Americans won't take much interest in those cable channels.

Most people aren't concerned that information is filtered for their consumption and because of this they become absorbed with the only information they read, see and hear.