Burst Your Bubble

In this post, we’ll be taking a deeper look and defining filter bubbles and polarization. Now that you’ve been introduced to our campaign, and the aims we want to achieve, it’s time to explain these concepts properly, and how they are often intertwined. Quite simply, filter bubbles are a result of algorithms which are built into social media platforms and that are created in order to recognise user’s preferences. Using the information collected, platforms can show personalised, preferential content to users. This means that whatever a user engages with most, will most likely be the type of content to reappear, with the aim of encouraging you to stay on the site for as long as possible. For example, does your TikTok feed often show you the same type of content, making you wonder how it knows you so well? Or does your Twitter feed love to keep you updated on what you’re interested in most? Do these things then keep you scrolling for longer? If so, then you already have first-ha...

Are you a frequent social media user? Do you use social media as one of your main sources of news? Have you ever then watched mainstream news channels (or read newspapers) and realised you haven’t actually been as up to date with current affairs as you thought? Or have only actually heard one side of a debate? Maybe you find that mainstream news content is different from your social media news content or challenges your viewpoints more than usual. Do you feel slightly distant from mainstream news content? Almost in your own, unchallenged bubble ? If so, you’re not alone! This is very common! But sadly, it also means that you are most likely experiencing a filter bubble and are therefore consuming a very niche, similar range of news content and viewpoints. This is an issue which concerns scholars across the globe, especially since the increasing use of social media as a main news source. It is also an issue which you too, should be concerned about and should attempt to com...