28 Replies to “TED Talk by Eli Pariser: Beware online “filter bubbles””

  1. This was definitely an eye-opener! Personalization on the internet is nice to a certain extent, like Melanie is saying, because it filters out the tons of information that is on there and puts in the forefront what they believe we would like to see, but this is forming very one-sided opinionated people. Individuals need to broaden their horizons and read on different perspectives to stretch themselves.

  2. The internet is crazy! Although I had heard that facebook changed things around to what you would enjoy to look at, I think it is absurd that the entire internet does that. It makes it quite convenient that they just know what I want to see and will show me that. For example I am positive that if I looked up Egypt in Google, I would get an article about what is going on but my sister would get something on Egyptian Dancing or Folklore. I really enjoyed it and personally think that I like the fact that the internet does that.

  3. I agree with TED talk by Eli Pariser because we need to be able to interact with information that we don’t agree on instead of only information we do agree on. We need to have a balance of both. If the web filters out issues that aren’t our interests or our opinion they are ultimately restricting our ability to connect to the world around us through the web to our fullest potential.

  4. I agree with what he was saying to a certain extent. I definitely think it’s important that the internet is able to inform us on what is going on throughout the world, both the good and the bad. I didn’t know that Google shows different results for each person. On the other hand, If we make a search specific, then we will be able to find anything. In the case of Facebook, I think it is convenient to have filters because it helps you to narrow down what you want to see. Eli said that his conservative friends were no longer coming up on his news feed, but the simple solution would be to just make a list of conservative friends so that they are only a click away.

  5. I thought that the video was very interseting and eye opening to the public. How technology has changed and has really taken over. Google is editing its link due to what we have previously seen makes me wonder what else is being under control. I had no idea that this was going on. It surprises me alot.

  6. I think Eli Pariser has a really good point. I have been aware that Facebook, Google, and other sites have been doing this. I even liked that they “suggest” things that I like. However, I have not given much thought to what I may be missing. Who knew there is a bad side of customization? I’m glad that there are people who are a little more observant that me to catch these things. I don’t think that customization should be done away with, but I do think internet companies should have some standard for providing responsible substantial content

  7. I really liked what the video was presenting and how it brought the problems of filters to my attention. I thought that Google was the end all of searching and I thought it was consistent, but apparently Google is just showing me what it thinks I want to see. I don’t appreciate people sucking up to me, especially if those people are computers and especially if those computers aren’t very good at it. Come on, Google…grow up.

  8. The fact that the Internet is not really connecting society, but rather pushing people apart is pretty scary. I was shocked to find out that Google and other Web sites can control what we see and what we don’t see based on some sort of mathematical formula calculating our interests. Instead of seeing what’s important or gaining other points of view we are seeing what is most “relevant” to our lives. How can society evolve if opposing thoughts are not discussed and debated? According to his video, the Internet is actually becoming less relevant to society since we can only see and interact what we agree with.

  9. I knew that Google and other websites were editing the links that were chosen for you at their websites by different preferences you had, and different things you liked, but i had no idea that it was going that far. I hadn’t realized that if i was to search something on Google, it would come up with different links than the person sitting right next to me. I definitely think that we should be able to choose for ourselves what we want to look at and not have them chosen for us.

  10. It’s interesting to see how advance the internet has become, and how much search engines are integrated with most of our online activity. It really is a revolutionary idea to have personal search results based on what our interest appear online; it helps to utilize our time and effeciency while researching online. However, it is alittle discomforting in the sense that personal searches do seem to lead our ideas and opinions into the direction of where the internet generates our results. I’m not sure how I feel about the internet controlling the media I view daily.

  11. I think the customization that filter bubbles offer could be somewhat dangerous. A search should be unbiased information that is handed to the “searcher” so we may be able to be introduced to new ideas and people just as Eli said. I agree that the the makers need to be aware that while this is a new and innovative idea, we still need the internet to be a wide source when it comes to searching online. It surprised me that search engines do this.

  12. I thought this was really eye-opening! My motivation to look outside my “bubble” (which I didn’t even realize existed) has decreased because local things that relate directly to me have become the most important.
    Everything has become tailored and I didn’t see it as a negative thing until right now. We are so isolated from the rest of the world and the one thing that was supposed to connect us has been made into a world of “self”. People are going to care less and less and then the whole point of sharing information will be over. Appreciation for other people’s talents, struggles, and daily lives are what connect us as people. The internet really needs to maintain the quality of balance like he said.

  13. I knew that websites such as google can spy on everything that you do, but I think that people need to be more aware of that. Facebook has the power to post scams on your profile and make it look like you are the one that posted it and google can see what browser you are using, AND it can locate you and give you movie times and the weather for your area without you even telling it where you are. it is very smart and useful, but it is also dangerous and creepy at the same time.

  14. Filter bubbles seem to be present on many sites. I think they’re dangerous because they really limit the search results, advertisements, etc. that are we exposed to on a day-to-day basis. They may bias our opinion of a specific topic and hinder us from exploring all aspects of a subject. I think filter bubbles go against the original purpose of the internet and search engines.

  15. I thought the TED talk was rather informative. He presented information that I was not aware of before. I think he may have ruffed feathers in the room but what he said definitely needed to be.

  16. I think this video was very interesting, and Eli has some very good points. I think the Internet is reaching a point where we can actually say with some truth that “Skynet is real”. Not that it is going to take over and become a real thinking machine and kill all mankind like in the Terminator movies, but the Internet is a scary place now. The fact that it can determine what we will like more of when we search for something based upon our browsing history, where we live, what kind of computer we use, etc, is crazy and nerve-wracking. I’m very curious to see where the Internet and this subject will be in the next five and ten years, and even further, and the effect it will have on our children.

  17. Eli had awesome delivery during his presentation. He held the attention of the audience the entire time. And I must say, he did a great job with which visuals he used in correlation to his points.

    It’s interesting to think that searches can be so different for just two people researching the same topic. I assumed that the same things came up in a Google search for everyone if they entered the same keywords.

  18. His graphics were amazing.

    Personalization on internet: I like it to an extent, because it helps me find what I’m looking for. But I want to be able to choose what gets into my “bubble”, and if I’m clicking on a link, that doesn’t mean that I agree with what I’m reading, or even want to read anything like that again. Therefore, I don’t want the computer gatekeepers to determine what comes into my Google search, because I want to find information that makes me see things from a different point of view, not just what I agree with or what makes me feel comfortable.

  19. I was so surprised at what the internet does without us knowing about it. It is crazy to think I am not getting the same information as someone else that is searching the same thing. It seems as if the internet is somewhat controlling the media we see and our opinions of whats going on in the world.

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