Confirmation Bias

Sorry to Burst Your [Filter] Bubble

November 2, 2020 by Kaylen Sanchez

Do you find yourself becoming bored or fatigued by your daily intake of social media? Do you feel trapped in a constant cycle of monotony? You may be caught in a filter bubble. Due to the ongoing pandemic, families and children have looked to technology for sources of happiness, news, and leisure. Quarantines have limited social interaction, forcing society to indulge in more screen-time. Not all screen-time is detrimental, but we must acquaint ourselves with the concept of filter bubbles. Today’s article covers what filter bubbles are, the harms of filter bubbles, and how you can keep your family safe from the strings attached to algorithms with the help of our sensible GKIS tips.

What is a “filter bubble” and how are they formed?

Coined by Eli Pariser, a filter bubble is a tailored universe of information built through algorithm filters.[1] Social media algorithms process and gather information (data), with the task of predicting what the user would like to see.[2] Despite the use of free products and services (like Facebook), your family’s personal information (like browsing and buying behaviors) is collected and sold to advertisers (this is how platforms grow). Filter bubbles form through data gathered during your recurring use of social media, apps, and websites. In fact, as you browse through the internet, you are being followed by trackers you pick up from websites that gather this data. The trackers that invisibly follow you as you visit various virtual neighborhoods is referred to as virtual exhaust.

With your personal information, these algorithms can then retarget you by showing you ads about the things you seemed interested in during previous browsing. An example of these algorithms at work includes a story about a girl who was targeted with baby ads before knowing she was pregnant! The young woman did not outright give herself away by looking at cribs or diapers; however, her subscription and purchase history led to data collection that pointed to the direction of pregnancy.[3]

If algorithms could go as far as attempting to predict sensitive information such as pregnancy, imagine the different directions the algorithms will predict with each of your family members. Although we give our permission for marketers to track us by using certain platforms (because we love that free, delicious content), it’s useful to be educated about the ways of marketers. To help you recognize the red flags of marketing so you can teach them to your kids, GKIS offers ways to keep your family internet safe. Take the first step by signing up for our How to Spot Marketing Red Flags Supplement. It’s the perfect addition to our free Connected Family Screen Agreement available at GetKidsInternetSafe.com.

Everyday Examples

Everyday examples of tools that form filter bubbles include Facebook news feeds, Twitter timelines, and any kind of “For You” feature. Because these pages are tailored to your liking (based on personal data), a filter bubble is compiled through media similarities, leading to a customized but limited online experience.

Other examples of tools that form filter bubbles are the checkboxes to “get to know you better” or “Suggested Pages.” I love to indulge in following online influencers that offer fashion and makeup inspiration, but at the same time, I realize that it’s a bubble of advertisements that are trying to get me to swipe my card. These days, almost every influencer post includes a paid promotion. Because we love the convenience of buying off the internet, it reinforces the idea that you can easily shop in the comfort of your own home. You can see where this constant cycle of exposure can be detrimental, not just to the reward system in our brains (instant gratification) but also to our financial stability.

What are the harms of filter bubbles?

Narcissism and Herd Mentality

It has been proposed that filter bubbles may lead to narcissistic tendencies, as the filter bubble ricochets one’s preferences. Narcissism in the digital age includes preoccupation with self-image, which is evident in a filter bubble when your beliefs and opinions are reinforced.[4]

In psychology, the herd mentality is the notion that people tend to make decisions to fit in with the majority. This mentality can be especially harmful in a filter bubble, as your family members may blindly follow an idea or group without considering opposing viewpoints or repercussions of their actions. Sometimes a filter bubble gives the impression of a majority preference when it’s actually just a small part of the overall picture.

Exposure to Fake News

Searching the internet makes it very easy to fall victim to a confirmation bias, which is the notion that people prefer sources that confirm their beliefs, negating opposing viewpoints. This bias can put you at risk of digital injury by exposing your family to fake news and misinformation, leading you to believe in (and even share) false conclusions about important topics.

Consider the following thought experiment. Imagine disagreeing with someone so much so that you resort to searching the internet for backup. You might feel tempted to click on the first source that confirms your stance, and then a second, and so on… As you search for information, algorithms are tailoring your search results to your search history, filtering out beneficial information that would be useful to know to form an unbiased opinion.

Voting is a prime example of this dilemma, as politics in this digital age are nearly impossible to evade. Filter bubbles have not only intensified our stance on the current presidential election between President Trump and former Vice President Biden, but they have also affected the way we engage in politics with family members, friends, and even strangers.

No matter where you stand, it is clear to see the effects of confirmation bias on political polarization. Polarized opinions and interactions are just a few of many examples of digital injury and toxic online behavior. To learn more about the repercussions and psychology behind misinformation, check out this in-depth GKIS article about fake news.

Isolation and Narrow-Mindedness

Eli Pariser suggests that we can think of the filter bubble as a “party of one.”[5] Without exposure to information that will challenge our way of thinking, our outlook on the world around us will inevitably become one-dimensional.[6] Dr. Tracy Bennett, founder of GetKidsInternetSafe, says she sees evidence of this emotional isolation every day in practice. By feeling more and more confident in their belief systems, many of us increasingly feel frustrated and angry. As we seek sources to increase our confidence, we fall into a cycle of fear, confirmation, anger, and isolation. “Worst case scenario,” she says, “we give up and sink into depression and apathy.”

Hate Groups and Radicalization

Kids can fall into filter bubbles just like adults can. To keep kids from accessing hate group and cult information and potentially becoming radicalized, parents need to access parental controls like those offered in our GKIS Screen Safety Toolkit. To learn more about how these harmful communities could be targeting your family, check out this GKIS article about hate groups and cults.

Thanks to CSUCI intern Kaylen Sanchez for researching filter bubbles for this GKIS article.

I’m the mom psychologist who will help you GetKidsInternetSafe.

Onward to More Awesome Parenting,

Tracy S. Bennett, Ph.D.
Mom, Clinical Psychologist, CSUCI Adjunct Faculty
GetKidsInternetSafe.com

Photos Credits

Image by Pixabay from Pexels

Photo by Tracy Le Blanc from Pexels

Image by Yomare from Pixabay

Works Cited

[1] TEDtalksDirector [TED] (2011, May 2) Beware online “filter bubbles” | Eli Pariser [Video File]. Retrieved from: https://youtu.be/B8ofWFx525s

[2] Orlowski, J. (Director) (2020).The Social Dilemma [Documentary] Netflix. https://www.netflix.com/title/81254224

[3] Hill, K. (2016, March 31). How Target Figured Out A Teen Girl Was Pregnant Before Her Father Did. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2012/02/16/how-target-figured-out-a-teen-girl-was-pregnant-before-her-father-did/#30b9ac0e6668

[4] MacDonald, P. (2014). Narcissism in the modern world. Psychodynamic Practice: Individuals, Groups and Organisations, 20(2), 144–153. https://doi-org.summit.csuci.edu/10.1080/14753634.2014.894225

[5] TEDtalksDirector [TED] (2011, May 2) Beware online “filter bubbles” | Eli Pariser [Video File]. Retrieved from: https://youtu.be/B8ofWFx525s

^[6] GCFLearnFree.org (2018, Nov 29) How Filter Bubbles Isolate You [Video File]. Retrieved from: https://youtu.be/pT-k1kDIRnw

The Psychology Behind Fake News, Bots, and Conspiracy Theories on the Internet

February 25, 2020 by Dylan Smithson

Clickbait headlines and Internet autofeeds tempt us into mindless scrolling. They soak into our memories without our awareness and tempt us to share even after only reading the headline. False information manipulates stock markets, our political views, and our purchasing. It makes us feel connected to celebrities and can divide families. Everybody has an opinion that they are happy to argue about online even if they believe it’s too rude to share at a dinner party. What is fake news? How do bots contribute to fake news? Why does fake news suck us in so expertly? And how can we avoid its seductive allure?

What is “fake news?”

Fake news is false information designed to inform opinions and tempt sharing. It could be a rumor, deliberate propaganda, or an unintended error that deceives readers.

Fake news can affect attitudes and behavior. Fake news about a celebrity may not be harmless, but chances are it won’t have a long-lasting and devastating impact. However, fake news about the spread of a virus, the necessity of medical interventions, or the intentions of a politician can have a huge impact and manipulate behavior in dangerous ways.

Bots!

In addition to the three billion human accounts on social media, there are also millions of bots.[i] Bots are created using a computer algorithm (a set of instructions used to complete a task) and work autonomously and repetitively. They can simulate human behavior on social media websites by interacting with other users and by sharing information and messages.

Bots possess artificial intelligence (AI). They can learn response patterns in different situations. Programmed to identify and target influential social media users, bots can spread fake news quickly.

According to a 2017 estimate, there were about 23 million bots on Twitter, 27 million bots on Instagram, and 140 million bots on Facebook. Altogether, that adds to 190 million bots on just three social media platforms, more than half the population of the United States.[ii]

3 Reasons Why We Get Sucked in by Fake News

With convenient on-demand internet access, we’ve gotten into the habit of greedily gulping rather than thoughtfully chewing our news. We browse instead of reading then impulsively jump to share.

A recent study found that 59% of shared articles on social media are never even read. Most social media users get their information based solely on a headline.[iii] Why are we susceptible to this form of online behavior? Are we lazy with low attention spans, or could it be something else?

Fake news is crafted to be widely appealing.

A recent study found that fake news is 70% more likely to be retweeted than true stories. A true story takes six times longer to reach 1,500 people than it takes for fake news to reach the same amount of people. Fake news is typically new and unusual information that is tested for shareability. Unlike truth, which you consume and it’s over, fake news is alive and constantly evolving.[iv]

We hear and see what we want.

An echo chamber is a metaphor for a closed online space where beliefs are repeated by different users. With each contact with that information, the information is exaggerated and the reader becomes more convinced that the content is factual and impactful.

Social media sites repetitively send us links to information based on our previous internet searches. This is called targeted advertising. It is designed to take us into a rabbit hole of single-minded desire. Not only does this sell us ideas, belief systems, and facts, but it can also get us to back politicians and influencers and ultimately spend our money. The act of unconsciously seeking out and remembering information that supports our views is called confirmation bias. Fake news feeds this bias.

Shortcuts are easier.

Heuristics are shortcuts our minds take to make quicker decisions. They allow us to function without having to think about every action we make.

Humans are not designed to have an honest view of the world. We form our decisions based on a vague worldview supported by emotional confirmation. We search for facts that make us feel more confident and avoid or flatly reject those that don’t.

Black-and-white thinking calms our anxiety and makes us feel like we have more control. Considering complex information and complicated nuance takes more effort and time. It also requires a more informed database to work from. Most online readers don’t want to take the time to patiently and humbly build up that kind of expertise. Quick information that offers more successful shareability is a more attractive option for online communication.

3 Reasons Why We Believe It

British psychologist Karen Douglas found three criteria for why someone would believe in conspiracy theories.

The Desire for Understanding and Certainty

It’s human nature to try to explain why things happen. Evolutionarily, those who were the best problem-solvers were more likely to survive. There is an adaptive advantage for those who ask questions and quickly find answers. Easy answers ease our anxiety and simply confirm our worldview.

Conspiracy theories are also false beliefs, and those who believe in them have a vested interest in keeping them. Uncertainty is an unpleasant state. Conspiracy theories provide a sense of understanding and certainty that is comforting.

The Desire for Control and Security

We need to feel like we have control over our lives. For conspiracy theorists, this is especially true when the alternative to their belief is stressful. For instance, if global warming is true and temperatures are rising, we will have to change our lifestyles. That would be uncomfortable and costly. Instead, you could listen to influencers who assure you that global warming is a hoax so you can continue with your way of living. This is called motivated reasoning and is a strong component of belief in conspiracy theories.

The Desire to Maintain a Positive Self-Image

Research has shown that those who feel they are socially marginalized will be more likely to believe in conspiracy theories. A positive self-image is fed from our successes in our relationships and accolades from those we admire. Chatting in online forums with same-minded others brings us community and feelings of self-worth. Researching a conspiracy theory can give one a feeling of having exclusive knowledge and expertise and offer opportunities for adulation and leadership.[v]

How to Protect Ourselves from Being Duped by Fake News and Conspiracy Theories

Assess the characteristics of the article you are reading.

Is it an editorial or an opinion piece?
Who is the author?
Is the author credible?
Have they specialized in a certain field or are they a random person with an unresearched opinion?
Can you trust the information they offer?
Do they cite their sources or is the article designed to impress instead of informing?

Check the ads.

Be wary of articles containing multiple pop-ups, advertisements of items not associated with the article, or highly provocative and sexual advertisements.

Verify images.

Are the images copied from other sources or are they licensed for use by the author? Google Image Search is an easy tool to find published copies of the image.

Use fact-checking websites.

Examples are Snopes, Factcheck.org, and PolitiFact.

Research opposing views.

Check out sources with viewpoints opposing the articles you read that differ from your own opinions. To defend a point of view, you must understand the other side.

Learn to tolerate several complex ideas at once, even if it causes tension.

Smart discussion requires that we discuss the nuance of complex ideas rather than engaging in faulty or black-and-white thinking. Experts are not shy to say they don’t know something. Insecure amateurs try to fake it.

Share responsibly.

As important as it is to protect yourself from fake news, it is equally important to help protect others from fake news. Make sure to check the authenticity of an article before posting it online. If Aunt Joyce posts something inaccurate, side message her and let her know that it is fake news and how you found that information so she can better use fact-checking in the future.

Thanks to CSUCI intern, Dylan Smithson for researching the ways fake news is affecting us and how to avoid being morons online. To view some valuable news clips of Dr. Bennett’s interviews about parenting and screen safety, check out her YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/DRTRACYBENNETT,