1. On-line Filter Bubbles
An Express Workshop
By Brett Cloyd

2. Definition
“A filter bubble is a result of a personalized search in which a website algorithm selectively guesses what information a user would like to see based on information about the user (such as location, past click behavior and search history) and, as a result, users become separated from information that disagrees with their viewpoints, effectively isolating them in their own cultural or ideological bubbles.” – Wikipedia. Accessed 10/6/

3. Key Work
Pariser, Eli. The Filter Bubble : How the New Personalized Web Is Changing What We Read and How We Think / Eli Pariser. How the New Personalized Web Is Changing What We Read and How We Think. New York, NY: Penguin Books, Held at the Main Library ZA4237 .P (2nd floor)

4. Rationale/value/concern
Pariser identifies a Google PR statement in December 2009 that indicated Google would begin “personalizing” web search results to match what it thought users were looking for.
Filter Bubbles may be attractive ways to customize your search results to your interests, but you may be limiting content to things you agree with which may distort your views.
People see different search results based on an “algorithm” that learns about your interests and viewpoints.
Many people do not recognize this issue, and their search results confirm existing biases. People’s on-line experiences can be very different.

5. Where can I see filter bubbles
Internet Search Results (Google, Bing, others)
Amazon Book Search
Product or restaurant reviews
Your Facebook news feed
Advertising that “follows you around” the web

6. I’d like to know more Don’t Bubble: http://dontbubble.us/
Don’t Track:
(One caveat, these web sites are produced by Duck Duck Go which promotes their search engine)

7. Possible solutions / alternatives
Duck Duck Go: Search alternative.
Facebook. Change how you use this popular program based on concerns of not seeing everything. Stop using the Like button. Also, take a social media vacation.
Disconnect: Eliminate the ads that follow you around and block social media widgets that hog up your data / bandwidth.
How to Evaluate Information: the CRAAP Test.