Eli Parizer's The Filter Bubble
What is the filter bubble?
The Filter Bubble is a book regarding the implications of the filter bubble itself, as well as the strategy of personalization. The filter bubble is defined as a prediction engine that creates a universe of information, assuming and altering who we are, and changing the way we encounter this information (Pariser 9). This filter bubble is explained as an invisible sphere, which we automatically enter into. It is hard to avoid and it becomes invisible to us (Pariser 10). We are unable to see how bias and objective it is, as it filters information that we receive (Pariser 10). This is very problematic for children who are being exposed to biased forms of data. Pariser argues that personalization is not democratic. Personalization is a strategy that many website's use, creating and defining who a person is, and limiting the information that they receive. Media tends to filter information, prioritizing what is more relevant to the specific person, rather then placing importance first. This is a problem (Pariser 76). It goes against children's rights to receive all information important to their well-being (UNCRC 2013).
Why is this a problem?
The filter bubble, in short, filters information. But why is this so bad? Pariser explains that this results in information coming to us second hand. Information becomes distorted, edited, manipulated, and filtered through the media (Pariser 82). Therefore, the filter bubble is able to control what we see on the internet and what we do not. A filtered environment deprives people of knowledge and curiosity (Pariser 91). Now, does this not seem very problematic? What about for children, who are exposed to misinformation every day? Do you not think it is our right as adults to inform them of this and ensure that they are taught how to deal with this and to critically question all information given to them? Is this not one of their rights?
Is this democratic?
After understanding what the filter bubble is, we are now aware that the government is able to manipulate the truth (Pariser 141). It is here where censorship takes place which allows the government to control the context and flow of information (Pariser 141). This most definitely goes against our rights as citizens, and therefore the filter bubble is highly undemocratic! Pariser argues that democracy works only if citizens are able to think beyond our own narrow self-interests, however, the filter bubble deprives us of this (164). The filter bubble creates the impression that our own narrow self-interests are all that exist, and so it does not allow people to think critically or make their own decisions (Pariser 164). For children, this is something that they must be taught! It is not only one of their rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, but it is also crucial if we want to allow children to become active citizens who can have agency over their own decisions and their own life. This is why it is important that critical media literacy is taught to children, explaining how the internet works and the misinformation caused by this invisible filter bubble. Remember, Share explains that technological advances have now created new possibilities for the free flow of information, in which the government has the ability to restrict certain information at the expense of free expression and democracy (109). Therefore, the best thing to do is to educate children so that they are aware of this (Share 114). In short, this is what both Pariser and Share argue for.