If you are a social media user, or browsing the web using major search engines such as Google, you may be encapsulated in what Eli Pariser (an internet activist) terms “the filter bubble.” Information that fits your taste and point of view may in fact be “information junk food.” Make sure to prioritize “information vegetables” over “information dessert.” Pariser reminds us to seek out information that:
Below are a few ways of breaking through your filter bubble:
Understand your own bias: Do you only select and read articles that echo your own beliefs? Seek out opposing point of views or other perspectives.
Verify before using/sharing: Go outside the social media platform to verify the accuracy of the information being shared.
Clear search history and delete browser cookies: Major search engines use your browser cookies and search history to personalize results.
Search the web anonymously using incognito browsers:
For more information on the insular web and bursting your filter bubble, check out:
Image source: Screen-capture taken from Eli Pariser's Ted Talk.
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