The
exponential expansion of the information on the web resulted in more powerful
and more sophisticated search engines. Modern search engines use intricate
algorithms to select information based on the user’s previous online behavior
to tailor search results to what the user is most likely to like or agree with.
As a result, the user is exposed to a personalized set of information, links,
sites, and pages while being under the impression that he or she is seeing an
untampered view of the World Wide Web.
Though most consumers benefit from
quick finds of desirable products, some intellectuals, like Eli Pariser
and Tim Berners-Lee, sounded an alarm claiming that it would lead to
information bubbles which will lock people within comfortable but isolated,
their own cultural, educational, and ideological mini-worlds. Eli Pariser
coined the term “Filter Bubble” and spoke eloquently against limiting people’s
exposure to conflicting viewpoints and information. Watch his 9 minute presentation at http://www.ted.com/talks/eli_pariser_beware_online_filter_bubbles.html
and post your thoughts on the issue. How can “filter bubbles” affect education
and what is the role and responsibility of educators in ensuring free access to
information?
Eli
Pariser http://www.ted.com/speakers/eli_pariser.html
Tim
Berners-Lee http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Berners-Lee
First of all I am a huge fan of Ted Talks so I had seen this episode before and didn't really "get" it the first time. I understood what Eli Pariser was saying but didn't necessarily agree that what he was saying was true. I wasn't convinced that my web search engines were tailored to me. Then after several months had passed by I started to notice that previous things or items I had searched for were conveniently showing up as advertisements. Watching this video a second time around really helped me "get" what he was saying and how wonderful or terrible this concept could actually be. First I was convinced this was a good thing, that searching for items of interest would be so much easier now that these search engines were more advanced. But now I am not so sure. I see where this will limit me to only things that are similiar to what I have searched.
ReplyDeleteFor students this can be very dangerous. This will produce very close minded ideas and a very "unreal" world for students. Teachers need to make students supremely aware of this and how to prevent it. Student's should not rely on just what comes up in their search engines. I know that as a teacher I will be sure to prepare students for this and to encourage them to dig through articles that they may not have searched for in the beginning. Also, school databases are wonderful search engines to use because they are not scattered with advertisements that will pick up on their previous searches.
Creating a "web of one" that is so individualized and personalized is definitely not the most conducive for cultural, political, artistic exposure. However, I do not see this as a new, digital age phenomenon. I think that exposing yourself to ideas, books, films, and alternative life experiences has always involved explicit choice and action on the part of an individual. I do agree with Pariser that insulating and isolating ourselves from people and ideas that seem unfamiliar or uncomfortable or contrary to our beliefs is dangerous. However, it is difficult for me to buy into the idea that the internet and personalization is creating a new problem. It is part of human nature to seek the familiar and the comfortable. I think individuals who seek to better themselves, to become fully actualized, fight that urge and purposefully expose themselves to new, unknown, uncomfortable situations and ideas. However, this all happened before the internet ever existed, too. I think Pariser is taking issue with a very old problem that is masquerading as a something new. As educators, I think our energy would be best spent fostering a quiet bravery in our students to be the kind of people who seek out the new, different, and challenging.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this presentation. I have never seen Ted Talks before, but I have heard it mentioned before, so this was a new experience for me. I really enjoyed the topic, as "Filter Bubbles" are something I have noticed several times. While I can understand a user on social media being able to filter their own newsfeed to remove things they do not want to see, I do not think it's okay to remove things from a user's newsfeed without their consent, unless it's something they've previously elected to remove or it is vulgar or lewd content. I definitely do not think it is okay for Google to provide different results to different people. What if I want to read about a controversial topic that does not necessarily align with my views and Google has filtered such an article from my results because it did not match my typical online behavior? This could affect education in both positive and negative ways. On the positive side your results would be more tailored to your subject area or your teaching style, but on the negative side you might not be seeing things that could potentially benefit or add to a lesson. As far as ensuring free access to information, there are several things an educator can do. Google is not the only option, several educational databases exist. A school can typically subscribe to these databases, this would in turn allow any student at that school to access the database for free. For example, the university subscribes to many such sites, which are accessible through the Marx Library page! We should also always remind students that websites and search engines can be biased or produce results tailored to them, and should teach them to analyze a source before using it for any sort of project or paper.
ReplyDeleteThis is scary! Makes you feel like you're spied on! And we are. A couple of months ago, I took a picture of my receipt showing HP ink (for tax purposes). Later that night, advertisements on my Facebook showed up for HP ink! We are all in the habit of Googling things for answers; however, I didn't realize how different Google results were depending on the user! The filter bubble could restrict delivering information to students based on what they usually search. It could also potentially turn up those results that are not appropriate at school (that are usually filtered out). Further proof that I, as a Library Media Specialist, should be sure to recommend using the AVL (Alabama Virtual Library) for research and information. I know the information is reliable and it's free to all Alabama users!
ReplyDeleteI have never listened to Ted Talks until tonight. I really enjoyed listening about the filter bubble. It never dawned on me that when I search something, sites like Google, Facebook, and Yahoo News are personalizing my searches. The other night when I was playing YAHTZEE, the advertisement showing up on the screen was on Prom Themes. I had been searching the day before on Prom Themes for my wiki page. I thought the advertisement about Prom Themes was strange but blew it off. Now that I have listened about filter bubbles, it all makes perfect sense. Google is looking at what I am searching and personalizing it. This is affecting education. Teachers need to be made aware of these filter bubbles and also need to modify their assignments in order for students to have consistent results in web searches. If a teacher asks all the students to research and write about a certain country on the internet and one's results are on current events of the country and the other one's results are on weather and travel, students will be confused when presenting their papers. If the teacher knows about the filter bubbles that Eli Pariser discussed, he or she can have the students work together and compare web results. Teachers need to stay aware of the Internet and how it works.
ReplyDeleteTed Talk's video was very interesting to me. I never realized that sophisticated search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and Facebook are using intricate algorithms to select information from previous online searches of the user. Ted discusses how detailed our search engines are and how personalized they are. Filter bubbles have created it to be harder to obtain information that is not biased. The main affect that I can see this having on education is that teachers need to be very specific when giving assignments. If you are asking your class to write a book report on New York, when your students search for information, what information they receive is going to be very individualized. This is why teachers should be very specific when creating assignments so the information that each student receives is consistent across the board. It is our responsibility as educators to make sure we are aware of these filter bubbles so we can continue to provide free access to information for our students.
ReplyDeleteI first noticed this "filter bubble" on Facebook as well. I was seeing plenty of posts and pics from friends I communicated with a lot, but I was, and still am, missing family news, great educational resources shared by my colleagues, and important news sources I follow from around the world. After the TED Talk video, I am now more aware that this is happening in my internet searches as well. I use the internet to research various topics, including for lesson plans for my students. I notice now that usually the same websites I typically use for educational videos, games, reading passages, and math instruction are presented at the top of the list and I seldom venture past the first page. It's disappointing to think that I'm helping to put in place a filter bubble in educational technology for my students. Eli Pariser calls for ethical algorithms that mix relevant search listings with websites that are important, uncomfortable, challenging, and those with differing viewpoints. Until this happens, it is up to us as individuals, not just teachers, to seek and expose ourselves to credible, important, uncomfortable, challenging, and differing sources of media.
ReplyDeleteWow! This was a great video! I realize that we all do have our own "filter bubbles." However, I have never thought about being monitored or in a way, being watched, by different search engines. I agree with Eli Pariser, and I am against this! I think we should all be able to access the same information from the internet, despite certain interests or hobbies. This could be a huge problem for educators and we must be proactive in our planning to prevent it from effecting the information students get from the internet. As mentioned in a previous post, we need to provide specific resources, such as specific article for the entire class to read. This way, we can provide the source so they will all receive the same type of information, and allow the students to determine the most important facts from that article. This is just one example, but I do think this type of planning can help prevent the problem at times. Any time we allow free range for them to do their own research with any type of engine they choose, they may be subjected to biased information.
ReplyDeleteI think the ability to reach information that is out of our zone is the whole concept that the Internet or web was founded on. It is scary to think that these large companies are able to guide or manipulate the information that we see. I don’t feel comfortable with someone researching me and controlling what information I can look at, even if it is harmless and meant to help. The only way I can see this guided web interaction helping the education process is that computers used in the school setting can be stopped from accessing sites of questionable content. When students began to deeply research topics and are looking for every bit of information about the topic, these filter bubbles may hinder the ability to find that information. A good example would be someone, say a king, that is surrounded by employees hired by him. These workers are there to please him and will always adjust information or comments to create pleasure for the king. The king never receives any outside information that can broaden his knowledge and he always wonders if what he has received is true and complete information. I think a guided search engine can be helpful in certain situation but very harmful in others. Maybe a person should be able to control how the search engine is working at the time of that search. If you are shopping it can be quick and easy. If your collecting research for a project you would like to find every bit of information available. As an educator it is our responsibility to provide all and as truthful as possible every bit of information about a topic to our students.
ReplyDeleteI did not know that google search used an algorithm to tailor search results. It seems to me that the algorithms that are used to tailor search results are an attempt to assist web users with locating information most salient to them. Eli Pariser called the combination of all algoritmic editing on the web a filter bubble. He asserted that the internet is in control, showing individuals what the internet believes an individuals wants to see. The problem though, as Pariser noted, is that what the internet believes we want to see may not be what we need to see. I agree with Pariser's statement that filter bubbles can create an information junk food diet (lacking variety, single perspective) instead of a balanced diet (information from multiple perspectives). This can occur in education as in private life as it is one internet which is used in both arenas.
ReplyDeleteHow can educators may sure that individuals have free access to information? One idea which might receive some attention is to stop doing business with organizations that employ "algorithmic editing on the web". A hit in the pocketbook almost always receives timely attention.
An information bubble? What can we expect? Nothing is ever free. When the WWW was young we had to pay for browsers and we had choices, but as it has grown up, the small have merged with the larger and the choices are fewer and even fewer because we only really have two choices, accept their policies or don't have service. There is no middle ground. When we read the newspaper (been a while for me) we can choose which sections to read, thus we are creating our own bubble, but we can still see the other articles/sections and decide to read or not. With this www bubble we are not given the opportunity to see and choose - just to receive. I think that most people like bubbles. We choose to attend church with people who think and believe like us or we go somewhere else. The same applies to sports and other community organizations, if we don't agree, we can change our ways or change our group. People like what feels right, we don't like to feel uncomfortable. TV has made us feel comfortable with ideas that 30 years ago would have never been tolerated and the web has expanded it. . Google is not the only search engine, but it is the ONE I choose to use - when I wonder why, I think that I was tired of Microsoft being pushed on me. Now I'm comfortable with being watched? Well, I did say we like to be comfortable and I'm not ready to change. I would like to share this idea with my students and I think the search comparison would be a great challenge for my high school students (teachers too). The idea that the www would be free was a great idea, but it takes money for everything and finances are the driving force. I have heard rumors for years how the government was supporting google and the technology issues I have with it recently would indicate that something is trying to control it. But really, the survey idea is not new. Grocery stores have been using their frequent buyer programs to track our purchases far longer than google has existed, google just does it faster.
ReplyDeleteI think the filter bubble is comparable to society. Within Mobile County alone, we have schools like McGill-Toolen and schools like Williamson. These students live within the same geographic area, but their versions of reality are dramatically different. Pariser argues this within the frame of the internet- we are shown a world based on previous interactions and personal history, without much of an idea of what is beyond that. One struggle I have with my students is my desire for them to be exposed to life beyond Prichard. I feel many of them have no experience in other environments, and are therefore restricting their choices for the future. The first high school I attended was in rural Oklahoma. There were approximately 200 students in the entire high school, 9-12. Students there had not been outside their small town for any length of time. Many are still there today, and I can’t imagine that trend ending.
ReplyDeleteWhat scares me about the filter bubble is the idea that the internet is supposed to be a window to the world. But if search engines are creating this comfort zone for us without our permission, we are losing that opportunity. How can students with no way of physically experiencing the “outside world” virtually experience it if we’re robbing them of that exposure? It quite honestly terrifies me. Especially since I now know my google results are filtered based on my device, not necessarily my account.
In my opinion, as Eli Pariser presents in Beware online "filter bubbles", educators need to be sure that students of all ages are exposed to all sorts of information and ideas. I was not really aware of how the algorithms affect what we see on the Internet. I, like Pariser, like to hear all sides of an issue. Therefore, I really don't like that some information is being filter out without my consent. I would therefore think that since this same type of filtering is happening to our students, then educators need to be certain to be sure to include as much differing opinions, ideas, and information to be shared in class as they can. As well, higher education administrators have a responsibility to do there best to be inclusive of all kinds of groups, activities, and information in campus life as well as in the classroom. I think this is the only way we can combat the "filter bubbles".
ReplyDeleteI first noticed the "filter bubble" on my Facebook newsfeed. Why am I not being notified as to what my sister is posting? How do I have 1,000 friends on Facebook but only see what 20 to 30 of them are posting about? It is interesting to see how Facebook can filter out the people you are friends with on Facebook. People use Facebook to keep up with what others in their network are doing. If we only see what a fraction of our "friends" are posting about, what is the purpose of being friends with more than those few people? I didn't know that Google did the same thing! What an eye opener that was! Google is the search engine that I use 99% of the time. I feel that it is reliable, gives me the information I seek, and answers my questions. Now that I have watched this Ted Talks video featuring Eli Pariser, I like Google because it has filtered everything else outside of "my bubble" out of my search results. How scary is that! I miss out on a lot of important information, but I'm not fully aware of what information I'm not receiving. This, in my opinion, can play a negative role within education. As teachers, it is our responsibility to teach our students about both sides of the story and not just show them what we as individuals think about a given topic. For example, politics and presidential candidates. This is a very relevant topic within the current events class that I observe at Spanish Fort Middle School (I'm currently in Practicum). We are talking about the Republican candidates now more so than the Democratic because the Republicans are currently in the news. It is difficult not to voice my personal opinion to these students. Most of them are just repeating what they hear their parents say, but this is also a form of filtering. We, Mrs. Floyd and I, encourage these students to look at many different sites. Just because you read it on one site doesn't make that information 100% accurate. In order to be successful, having all the information you can about a given topic or subject is important. However, if search engines like Google filter out what doesn't fit in your bubble, you are only receiving the information that adheres to your views. We as teachers need to make sure that our students are opposed to many different ideas, opinions, and information. Not until then will they be able to make their own inferences and opinions. We have to defeat the "filter bubble" so we can have access to all the information available on the web. It is our responsibility as teachers to make sure that our students have that kind of access.
ReplyDeleteFor me, this TED talk was jaw-dropping. I have talked to other teachers during the school day before and we have Googled the exact same things in order to collaborate on lesson plans and come up with completely different results... I thought one of us was doing it wrong. Now it all makes sense! I'm somewhat angered at this idea that what information I get to see is edited for me.
ReplyDeleteI am definitely going to inform my students of this when I'm teaching them how to research. I'm going to tell them purposely seek out information that is from the other point of view and that is different from their own opinions in order to have a broader view of issues. I am so glad I watched this video and am now more informed about how the Internet works and about what information I am or am not getting to see.