You will learn
- The role algorithms and echo chambers play in what people tend to believe.
- How to formulate an effective keyword search using advanced search operators.
Algorithms and echo chambers: how information finds you
Have you ever noticed how Google tries to complete your thoughts when you search for something? How about those ads online that seem to show you exactly what you were thinking about buying? This is a result of computer algorithms that constantly learn from everything you do online. Algorithms are a set of mathematical rules created to determine what you see online. The predictions may be based on things you searched for, videos you watched or people and businesses you follow and like on social media. Algorithms can be helpful when you try to find information, but keep in mind they may also keep you in a bubble.
Conversation starters
Activity
Visit one of your social media feeds. Review the accounts you have liked and followed, paying attention to the range of viewpoints and opinions expressed in them. Now, try searching for an account that is outside of your filter bubble, one that is reliable but might not match your views and opinions. For example, if you follow a lot of left-leaning accounts, try following some right-leaning accounts. Follow local, national and international news sites to diversify your news diet. This will round out your algorithm and give you a variety of perspectives that you may not have seen before.
Smarter searching: how you find information
Half the journey is knowing how information reaches you and building a feed that gives you a wide range of sources and points of view. The other half is understanding how to search for information. This video, from MediaWise and PBS Student Reporting Labs, gives you some tips that will up your keyword search game. Follow along and complete the activities to start practicing.
Activity
Choose a topic that you are interested in and do a keyword search online for information about it. View the search results and zoom in on one aspect of the topic. For example, if you searched for “election security,” consider digging into a specific time frame or location. Here is a list of handy search tools mentioned in the video above that you can use for this activity.
Vocabulary check
Takeaway
Because there is so much out there on the internet, remember that you’re not seeing everything. Echo chambers and algorithms limit what you access online. To break free from them, consciously choose to find and follow a wide range of sources.
References and Resources
