A Social Media Filter Bubble Is OK Right Now…
The idea of a filter bubble has spread over recent years. It was first coined by Eli Pariser and became the title of his 2011 book on the subject, explaining how algorithms on search and social media sites can mean we get served things we already agree with.
And generally that’s a bad thing if you want to be able to see the whole of an issue, and experience counter-viewpoints. Otherwise, you can find yourself in an echo chamber with only people and sources who share your views, and in some cases that can lead to all sorts of problems with potentially fake or dangerous opinions being amplified.
There’s a lot of writing available looking at the effects of personalised recommendations, along with academic research and a lengthy Wikipedia page to start from.
Typically as a writer, occasional journalist, blogger and fan of losing myself in endless research, I’d agree with the view that being in a filter bubble will have a negative impact on your information about the world around you, and possibly cause you to cling onto things which are proven rubbish. And I’ve seen enough articles and studies of radicisation to realise there are real risks to being cocooned withing a specific ideology.
But these aren’t normal times. And I’ve already found that one of the best ways to lower stress, and cope more positively with the current pandemic lockdown is to remove myself from the 24/7 news cycle.
Once a day, I’ll check a couple of reasonably reputable news websites, and flick through the latest advice from the NHS and relevant medical organisations. That takes about 10 minutes, and means I can avoid the constant repetition of flimsy factual reporting that makes the basis for most TV and online journalism at the moment.
And that has definitely helped.
Sadly what I can’t avoid is social media. It’s a big part of my work for research, networking, and sharing various things I’m involved with. And despite the fact most of my networks are based around friends and shared professional or leisure interests, that doesn’t stop pandemics and politics rearing their ugly heads.
I’ve tried engaging with politics via social media for several years. And come away realising that it’s better for my mental health if I just raise the funds to spend on targetted social media advertising instead if I want to change anyone’s opinion.
Meanwhile am I really going to benefit from the coronavirus medical knowledge and opinions of someone who works in retail, marketing, as an estate agent or builder? Only if what they’re sharing specifically applies to the industry they’re in, which isn’t usually the case.
I’ve never unfriends or blocked people for having differing views to me on social media. Often I’ve been intrigued to find out what led to their opinions, and why they feel so strongly in a particular way.
But not now. I’ve got the energy to keep working (especially as somehow we’re ineligible for pretty much all support), looking after myself and my girlfriend, and virtually keeping close to family and friends. If that means deleting, blocking or muting people who insist on posting conspiracy theory memes, opinion-based rants, or grabbing the chance to troll and attack anyone they feel like, then I think a social media filter bubble is OK right now…
(Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash. Post originally published at https://danthornton.net/2020/04/a-social-media-filter-bubble-is-ok-right-now/)
