Tuesday, October 29, 2013

filter bubbles

56 comments:

  1. a) What new information did you learn from the video?
    Most commonly used websites such as Facebook and Google filter what you see without you even knowing. The websites try to customize what you see based upon what their algorithms think your interests are.
    b) How does this information make you think differently about what you see online?
    I feel kind of violated. A whole resource are knowledge is possibly being taken away from me. I don't like that their is information that could possibly affect my thoughts or views on something being kept from me. This makes me kind of lose my trust in what what I see online as a plethora of different views and information that I can make an opinion on. It feels like my opinion is being made for me.
    c) What questions does this video raise about the Internet in general?
    For me it raises the question of, is it possible that people's biases can be largely impacted by the information that is and isn't presented to them on their web search? Could this potentially be used to brainwash large groups of people into believing one way?
    d) How can you improve the effectiveness of your searches?
    Try to broaden the links you click on, rather than just clicking on the first link that appears every time you do a search, go to the next page and try using different websites to research information. Also try verifying research on multiples websites before believing what you read to be true.

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  2. Wow this video makes a lot of sense! I learned that the internet is formed around where I am, what computer I am using and what links I click on. Now that I have this information, I want to try and broaden my sources, by clicking on a little bit of everything. I have this feeling that I am missing out on the important things, when I have been just looking at what interests me. I wonder what is happening outside of my filter bubbles, am I not getting everything that everyone else is seeing? I will just have to try and search more options, so that my filter bubbles will expand for wider opportunities.

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  3. a) I learned that things we google are constantly being filtered depending on who is doing the "googling". I honestly had no idea this was happening and it kind of scares me. Even if we are not logged in, people still know what should and shouldn't be in our filtered bubbles.
    b) The things I see online now make me wonder what I am missing that has not been allowed access into my filtered bubble.
    c) This makes me question why the things I see were allowed into my bubble. It also makes me wonder why people think they have the right to do this.
    d) To improve the effectiveness of my searches I can search the same topics on different devices. I could also click through all the pages of results instead of just looking at the first page.

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  4. a) From this video I learned that everyone can search the same exact thing yet won't get the same exact results. The web profiles you based on your interests from your browser to your location.
    b) This makes me wonder if I am missing out on something useful or important because I don't have the page sources as others.
    c) This video made me wonder if internet is a reliable thing to use in daily life?
    d) Instead of just putting in key words in hopes of the first link being exactly what I am looking for, I will make my searches more exact by inputting information as specifically as I can.

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  5. A. From this video, I learned that it really seems like we have no privacy anymore. Big sites like Google and Facebook are invading our privacy and grabbing info from us to try and personalize our internet experience.

    B. It begins to make me wonder what exactly I can do on a website like Google to have my experience completely modified again. If Google changes my experience on their website, what if I change or do something different than I usually would? Would it completely change again to fit my new interest(s)?

    C. What else can these websites see that we don't know about? What other information about ourselves can these websites receive and use or take? And will they likely use this information for something else?

    D. I suppose one thing to try is to be more specific with searches. Don't just put a simple key word or words down to search, but put more detain into a search.

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  6. a) What new information did you learn from the video?
    - I had known before that Facebook shows you the things that you tend to "like" and comment and view more and edit out people you don't really interact with, but I didn't know that at all about Google. I didn't know that it would even be possible to filter what search results they get.

    b)How does this information make you think differently about what you see online?
    Well now I'm kind of starting to wonder what I would be seeing if I was on a different type of computer, different city, etc. I'm not sure if I like the idea that I am being shown information based on what Google thinks I would agree with and want to learn about.

    c)What questions does this video raise about the Internet in general?
    Is the internet, in a way, only showing you a biased view of information? Is there any way to make the filtering stop? And also what type of information would I know right now if it had not been filtered out of my viewing?

    d)How can you improve the effectiveness of your searches?
    I think that you can improve the effectiveness by not always clicking on the same type of news. Also maybe using several different sites to verify what one site may be saying. I usually tend to click on the first result on the first page, but I may become open to more information if I scroll through the results a little more.

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  7. A) I did necessarily learn anything knew, as that i was exposed to the idea that a internet experience where the search is tailored to your preferences could have some significant drawbacks.
    B) The information presented in this TED Talk opened my eyes to the possibility that what I search on Google or other search engines might not be the whole story.
    C) This of course is the direction in which the internet search industry is heading because on paper the idea of a tailored search that frees up more time for other events is a novel one. But it must also be used with care so that the necessary information of a given topic is not omitted.
    D) To circumvent this filter people must be way more specific in their searches in order to find the information they seek. For instance if I were to look for Egyptian conflicts, instead of just searching Egypt and hoping a get a good bing, one might search Egyptian politic strife in the past 6 months.

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  8. a)What new information did you learn from the video?
    I learned that web sites filter what we see on them, and that we do not see what anybody else in the world sees, we see what that web site allowed us see.
    b)How does this information make you think differently about what you see online?
    It makes me think more about biases when I go on the internet. Not just biases in writing, but biases in what I see. I am not seeing the world, I am seeing a little, two dimensional slice of the world that the websites that I visit think that I want to see. I can no longer trust google or facebook to give me the whole story on a subject (which luckily I have not been doing), and I must try to find another way to get information.
    c)What questions does this video raise about the Internet in general?
    It makes me question how we can fix this, and if the companies who tailor your websites can be petitioned to get rid of the algorithms that they made to tailor your information intake.
    d)How can you improve the effectiveness of your searches?
    I can improve the effectiveness of my searches by signing out of websites like facebook and google, so that they can not use this against me, as well as not allowing websites to see my ip address or current location by turning on private browsing.

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  9. A. I learned that websites such as Facebook, Google, and Yahoo all work differently towards each person.
    B. This does change what I search because it may only give me a glimpse of what I am trying to search.
    C. This raises a question that is what am I missing when I search something?
    D. You can improve the effects of your searches by searching from multiple websites.

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  10. A) I learned that sites such as Facebook and Google (which I use quite often) uses filters to personalize your search. Many things are filtered or edited out for different people.
    B) It made me understand that when I asked my friends to look up something and I told them to click the first link, they were so confused. I feel like the don't need to edit out comments from Facebook or take sites away from Google. Also, just like what most people said all ready, when you or a stranger makes a statement, it would be considered fairly biased since what they see is completely different from others. It's kind of weird...
    C) How can people judge or believe what they see online when half of the things people post online are edited out?
    D) Possibly by researching the same idea or topic on different websites such as Yahoo, Google, MSN, etc. I'm not sure if I can honestly improve my searches if most websites are filtered.

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  12. a) I learned that Google is custom-tailored for the individual at use. That I am not seeing the bigger picture, that I am only viewing what Google wants me to see based on the fact that they think that this is what I should see through these Filter Bubbles.
    b) This makes me think that I am missing out on so many important events or discoveries happening around the world. that Google doesn't want me to see something and that is not right with me.
    c) Does what I see on the internet, because of the filter Bubbles, actually matter? How do I prevent this from happening? Why does the internet have so much access to our preferences and whereabouts?
    d) To improve the effectiveness of my searches I will refer to more than one search engine and go beyond the first page of results.

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  13. a) What new information did you learn from the video?
    I'd always known that my online searches and what I saw were often customized, but I think it was an interesting take on how to approach it as an issue. But on the other hand I often think that most people will always find fault in inventions like this. People can complain about seeing everything and seeing things they don't want to see, but will also find a way to criticize not being able to see enough. So while on one hand I can agree that when the important things are edited out of our searches, it is bad, I can also say that we will always find issues with internet use.
    b) How does this information make you think differently about what you see online? Since I was already familiar with this information it doesn't make me think to differently. I know that every search I do is adding to how everything else will be customized, and I don't hate it, nor do I like it. When I need to find accurate information I always check multiple sources, so I can just hope that that is enough.
    c) What questions does this video raise about the Internet in general?
    Well for one it essentially points out the flaws in customization. Is it editing out the important for silly information just because someone searches more comedic topics than serious? We should all have the same access to the same information, and in some ways we do. But it just means one must search harder, and on google most people tend to believe it to be the easy/lazy way to discover information, so they wouldn't search more thoroughly. There is a strong dependence on what is right in front of them, and there needs to be a way to broaden the spectrum that is shown to them.
    d) How can you improve the effectiveness of your searches?
    I think just being more conscientious of the fact that my search results will be biased, and then I need to find out information by checking multiple sources will be the best way. Continuing to do further research on a topic will help as well, by using multiple sites for examples.

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  14. a) I learned about the concept of filter bubbles and the idea that we are isolated in a "web of one" that is controlled not by us, but rather by big businesses who are telling us what we want to see.
    b) This information makes me wary of information I am reading and the accurateness of it. It makes me uncomfortable that I'm not in control of what I see.
    c) Why are filter bubbles legal? It seems like it's the same thing as propaganda, just friendlier.
    d) I can increase the effectiveness of my searches by using more than one search engine and comparing my results. Also by not taking things at face value and actually analyze what I am reading.

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  15. A) I learned that sites such as facebook and google filter what you can see based off of what you tend to click on first. And because of this, we can no longer see things that others can see.
    B)This new information makes me think that I am missing out on things that could be important and makes me wonder how accurate the information I am reading is. It upsets me that everything I search could possibly be taking away other important information that I could need in the future.
    C) Obviously, how can I prevent this from happening? And who though it would be a good idea to customize through filter bubbles?
    D) To increase the effectiveness of my searches would be to use more than one search engine and find multiple sources that say the same thing.

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  16. a) I learned the idea of filter bubbles isolate an individual more than they would help them due to the fact that a filter bubble cuts communication to outside sources you may be willing to research and alter your own opinions on due to the material and evidence being provided. The existence of filter bubbles however, was obvious. The amount of data being sent out to the world is too great to go unexamined.

    b) I feel held back. Restrained from the full amount of information available from what I could have. Furthermore I find this to be a little judgmental on activities, say you had this blog for English, the times you visit this blog would show that you REAAAALLY love blogging even though you may only pop your head in for the work.

    c) This doesn't particularly raise questions, it isn't a terrible marketing stream but I would love to know what has been retained from my views all these years.

    d) The problem is, unless you were specifically looking for separate points of view, the effectiveness of these bubbles generally point you to what you need. And, unfortunately, I generally use what is provided.

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  17. a) I learned that the things we search online are filtered before we see them and sometimes we are missing out on certain search results that may be useful.
    b) This makes me wonder if I am missing information that others are getting when I google something.
    c This raises the question, is it legal for filter bubbles to be used on people?
    d) A way that I can prevent this from happening to me is use different search engines.

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  18. a) From this video I learned that many internet networks and news mediums "filter" the information that we see and tailor what they show us to our personal tastes, interests, and other distinguishing traits specific to or demographics.

    b) This video does not change how I view the information I see online, as I have always been familiar with informational bias and preference. It does affect, however, how I think about the completeness of what I see. I can't make properly formed and complete conclusions without all of the right information

    c) This raises the question of whether the internet is really as "open and free" as we think it is, it could be playing to our ignorance and creating the illusion that we are properly informed when we are not.

    d) To make my internet searches more effective, I should be more specific and thorough with my searches, searching out multiple paths of information and perspective instead of making a vague search query and assuming that what google spits out is the essence of the situation.

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  19. a) Ted Talks are amazing! From this video I have learned that we as internet magnets are being isolated from our own world. Based on certain factors the web is choosing what we see on our computer screens. We are not in control of what we see on the web.

    b) This new information makes me wonder; what kind of news do I get when I search up a certain word and/or topic? Is it essential? Now I am aware that the internet is not making me aware of my surroundings. It is not giving me the full spectrum I thought I was getting when searching things on the internet.

    c) The questions I am asking myself is how do I know that the stuff I am searching on the internet is as rich and full of information than it could be when someone else searched the same thing? Why would the internet deprive the people that are keeping it running from information? Why choose their information? Do people not have the right to judge what they can and cannot see?

    d) To improve the effectiveness of my searches is to use more than one web page and/or different technology. For example using, Bing versus Google versus Duck Duck go or my computer versus my kindle.

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  20. a)What new information did you learn from the video?
    I learned exactly what this TED talk was meant to teach me. The internet is ridding of information we might not want to see by looking at our past sources. Google, Facebook, and Yahoo News are all different for each person that reaches them.
    b)How does this information make you think differently about what you see online?
    I thought I saw what everybody else saw, but after watching this video I now realize that what I am viewing is biased and if I were to really want an unbiased opinion on a subject I would need to find a new source.
    c)What questions does this video raise about the Internet in general?
    If the internet is doing this now, then what harm will come to us in the future? Will we all become codependent closeminded drones?
    and d)How can you improve the effectiveness of your searches?
    You need to become specific. If you want to learn more about modern egypt you cannot just type in the word egypt because it might give you hotels avaliable there. You need to type in such things as: the egyptian economy 2013.

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  21. a) I have noticed that sites like Facebook were getting customized to what I "want" to see. However, I had no idea google and other search engines even had the ability to tailor its results to the user.
    b) Now I know that there is much more to what I first see when I go online. It also concerns me that I am missing out on the well-rounded connected experience I thought I was getting.
    c) Is there anyway to get around these algorithmic devices? Also, should it be legal for news websites to use this same filter?
    d) A way for getting around these filters might be clicking on different sources first, sources that you might not have clicked on otherwise. This might widen the filter and let more balanced information through.

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  22. a) I learned that our web searches are filtered/catered to our interests; which makes a lot of sense now as I've noticed that what pops up from a similar search is different depending on the user.
    b) This doesn't make me feel very differently on what I see online because it does filter out what I wouldn't be interested in. However, it makes me wonder if I'm made to be ignorant to opposing views.
    c) If we wish to be naive of certain things, shouldn't filtering be self-customized? How much control do we really have over what we do?
    d) Like Daniel said, log out of your Google or Facebook account (which I do regularly because it's kind of creepy when I go onto the internet and they're like "Welcome back Brenna!"). And following what mostly everyone suggested, use multiple sources to search from for varied results (Yahoo, Bing, etc.).

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  23. a) I had no idea that Google results differed from person to person! After watching this video I realize that the things I see on Facebook are tailored to me and the ads for dance related things and Bob Dylan advertisements are not random but are there for a reason. Sneaky websites...
    b) I feel like I'm missing out on a lot of online content. I see things that I enjoy and agree with but there might be other things out there that I could potentially enjoy and agree with but I won't know unless they get filtered into my searches. I feel like my searches aren't as precise as I thought they were.
    c) Am I really in control of what I view online? I used to think that the Internet gave me enough results that my research would be unbiased but if my searches are filtered to fit only what I agree with, I must not be getting all sides of any story.
    d) Using a variety of search engines might help. Also not always clicking on the first result that pops up could help diversify things. Reading different kinds of links will hopefully make the "bubble" wider.

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  24. A. I learned that Social Networking sites and search engines have learned to tailor to the users preference and
    B. This makes think differently because it makes me wonder if I am too bland when I surf the web. It also seems that I am not as well as informed about current events than I thought I was and that I was not aware that my searches have become more and more appealing to me.
    C. It raises the question that if the Internet was becoming more and more censored, reverting us back to earlier times of newspapers that hold back parts of the story.
    D. I would try to use every search engine that is available, instead of just Google and Yahoo. I also need to research more worldly news and less sports as well.

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  25. a)What new information did you learn from the video?
    -I learned just how "censored" the internet really is. I'm a little hesitant to use the word censored, seeing as it has such a negative connotation, but to be honest that is what is really going on. With the internet we are constantly telling ourselves that we have complete access to information and that its all open for us to see with nothing hidden. So that video was a slap of reality.

    b)How does this information make you think differently about what you see online?
    -This video is really going to make me second guess how much information I am really going to find and how I research information. It also makes me more aware that trying to find different viewpoints is much more difficult than I thought it was. Which actually makes sense because when I try to write research papers I keep getting the same sources.

    c)What questions does this video raise about the Internet in general? and
    -This video really makes me think, how much of the Internet am I really missing out on? What potentially amazing websites, articles, and sources have I not found because my internet searches are hiding thing from me.

    d)How can you improve the effectiveness of your searches?
    -I use the website stumble upon, a lot during my internet time. It doesn't work for trying to find sources for a paper per say, but it does work well in finding cool, weird, or random information that I wouldn't have been able to find without it. But other than stumble upon, I think I am going to try to be more conscious about the words I use in a search (sometimes wording influences search outputs) as well as use multiple search engines, and spend more time searching.

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  26. I didn't really learn anything new from this video because I already had an idea of different browsers and site tailoring what you search to your past searches and other Internet activities. My online experience is always kind of random so I feel like I am getting a wide variety of information since I am not always the only one using my laptop or phone to search. If my brother searches cars on my laptop, my sister searches exercises, and I shop online then my filter bubbles are tailored to me but I feel like I am getting more exposure to opinions and sites than someone who has a computer just for them. Where I like the option of customizing and think my random searches and other users of my computer help my filters be less specific about what comes up on a search, I wish the internet didn't have filters because it is nice to know everything and you can find something else that interests you online if there were not filters. Being specific can help bypass filter bubbles but also doing a random search just to shake things up and broaden what you see on the Internet.

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  27. A)I learned that I am not in control of what information I receive, despite the feeling of control I may have when I "choose" what I search.
    B)This makes me think differently because I never thought how the important and unsettling things get sifted out of my life.
    C)The video raises the question that if we leave the gates of information to algorithmic machines, how we receive the information that will change our way of thinking?
    D)Knowing this, I will go out of my way to view on different links and try to not develop a obvious pattern of interest that will be predictable for antilogarithms to decode. Thus, by looking up different types of things on my own I may also be presented with different types of information through the internet.

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  28. 1) I had a feeling that my searches and "clicks" were being recorded because, like in Pandora, I visited sites like Best Buy and Costco, and the ads on the sides of the Pandora webpage showed Best Buy and Costco ads. But, it didn't really matter to me at that time.
    2) After watching this video, I now fully understand what is going on. Now, whenever I see an ad, I'll think of this video and remember that whatever I searched frequently or visited frequently in the past will show up again because it will be filtered to fill my interests in the future.
    3) Am I really acquiring the correct results for my searches? Is there much more results I can get?
    4) I can improve my effectiveness of my searches by searching specifically what I want/need. By using the correct words to describe or state what I truly need will help improve the list of results that I may get.

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  29. a)What new information did you learn from the video?
    The primary new info I learned was of Netflix is trying to balance these filter bubbles like watching Fluffy Animals to Action Intense Movie. But then us individuals might not be geared towards the items that we don't usually search. Also I didn't know google altered our searches until you told us in class and the evidence in this video.
    b)How does this information make you think differently about what you see online?
    What I see online is what I have always seen online because of what I search, therefore the whole entire universe of stars and planets are out there but I can't see it until I search differently. Everything is from my perspective on the internet, geared towards me, and everything revolves around me.
    c)What questions does this video raise about the Internet in general?
    What if we want to see different perspectives on our searches, how would we be able to do that. My searches are usually based with news and dilemmas, but now I want to see about technology. Is the internet actually collaborating with everyone in the world or the same people you usually talk to?
    d)How can you improve the effectiveness of your searches?
    I believe that I can improve my effectiveness on my searches by not always being concentrated on the newest news, but now looking into the past by searching about history of some such.

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  30. A) From this video I learned that the information I see and receive on the internet is all tailored to my specific likes and dislikes. Sites like Google and Facebook filter out things that I might find offensive or not agree with. I was surprised by this information because obviously I would like to believe that nothing in the news or the web is hidden from me but unfortunately I guess I am wrong.
    B) This information makes me feel like the things I see online are a little bit biased and too agreeable to my personality. I am now beginning to wonder what important stories and information I have been sheltered from.
    C) In general this makes me all the more weary of the internet. As kids, we were told to be afraid of the internet because there can be nasty people on the other side of the keyboard. However, it seems the real concern seems to lie in the companies that are intercepting and keeping information from us.
    D) To improve the effectiveness of my searches I think I will begin to use a variety of devices to see what information comes up on the different screens. Another solution might be to try various search engines and hope that this might expose you to a wider caliber of viewpoints and information.

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  31. a)What new information did you learn from the video?
    -everyone sees something different when they search for the same thing
    b)How does this information make you think differently about what you see online?
    -there is more to what is being presented to me
    c)What questions does this video raise about the Internet in general?
    -how can I get all the different points of view that are out there?
    d)How can you improve the effectiveness of your searches?
    -by focusing on a different point of view

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  32. a) I had a feeling that this was happening, but I learned from the video that the internet runs off algorithms that attempt to personalize our experience of the internet. The internet alters our results and filters what we can and cannot see when we search for things.
    b) I see this on YouTube a lot, since I frequent the website. Instead of popping up with multiple videos of the thing I asked for, it will come up with a few videos that I wanted along with a few videos that are completely irrelevant to my search and are labeled "recommended for you." I don't necessarily love this.
    c) A question that is raised about the internet now is the democracy behind it. Will these algorithms continue to alter our filter bubbles until we are blind to multiple opinions and biased to only a few? Is the internet really uniting our thoughts and ideas or simply enhancing our own personal beliefs?
    d) To improve the effectiveness of my searches, I'd have to now visit random sites that I don't normally visit when I use my search engine. It will be a pain, but I'm sure my attention span will go on a short-tempered rampage at some point or another, and that will be the perfect time to fix my filter bubble.

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  33. a) What new information did you learn from the video?
    - I learned that Facebook, Google, and other search engines tailor search results for their users. I had no idea that search results differed for every person!
    b) How does this information make you think differently about what you see online?
    - This information makes me feel like there is a whole lot that I'm missing out on. I do not like the idea of Google filtering what I do and do not get to see. What if I'm missing out on something that can potentially be useful or important?
    c) What questions does this video raise about the Internet in general?
    - How/Why does the Internet know so much about my preferences? Do I really control what I'm searching online?
    d) How can you improve the effectiveness of your searches?
    - I can improve the effectiveness of my searches by using a variety of different search engines as well as by being more specific with my searches.

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  34. a) I learned that the internet really does tailor our search engines based on what they think we enjoy. I had a feeling it was happening but never looked into it. My searches on my home computer are completely different from my school computer or when I'm logged out of my Google account. Though it's supposed to be helpful, it's somewhat holding us back.
    b) This video only confirmed my feeling of lacking all the information I really could be acquiring. All of my research papers and searches, they all seem somewhat incomplete knowing there was more than likely better information out there that my internet browser filtered out for me.
    c) What makes you think that all my searches are really my preferences? I can name a countless amount of times when I haven't been the only one searching while I was logged into my Google or Facebook account. Do you really think it's fair to decide what I like and dislike without my official say? Is the world really "in my hands" if you're sheltering me from all there really is?
    d) I feel like either using different search engines or different Google accounts for different purposes will give me a better searching experience. Personal accounts for random searches and School accounts for educational purposes.

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  35. A) Search engines such as Google and the things I see on Facebook are actually tailored to my thoughts based on links and stories I look at.
    B) I feel like I might be missing out on information. The web of information I'm seeing is smaller and now more biased to my point of view instead of giving me a large amount of information.
    C) When was it decided that I wanted my information to be limited? Yes I may be more likely to click on a specific link but that doesn't mean I don't want to see the perspective from the other side.
    D) To improve the effectiveness of my searches I could do one of two things, be extremely specific so one thread doesn't lead into the next, or be more general to allow for more results to show up and give me new places to explore. Also, going to more than one search engine would allow for different results.

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  36. A) "Filter Bubbles" showed how each piece of information we receive online is perfectly shaped into something that connects with us. Social media sites and various other websites will edit what is posted in order to fit my likes or dislikes. Now, this was quite interesting and weird to think about because it's hard to tell what is real and what is not. This is also a concept or theme within Hamlet.
    B) After watching this video, I want to see what they protected or got rid of because I would like to see what has been hidden from me. The web is a place to expand your point of view and use resources from all over the world in order to become better, so the idea that there is hidden information really makes me want to find out more about it.
    C) This video has caused me to lose a little trust with the information on the web because I don't know what is true or not. In addition, there may be a side of the story or information that is not being told.
    D) In order to avoid these edits, I'm going to research on various devices in the hopes of trying to find more information than what was originally given.

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  37. A)I actually feel I learned a lot from this video. I learned more about the tactics companies use to get us to want their product.
    B) I feel like filtration bubbles are causing me to only be able to see the world from one perspective. I personally do not feel that is a good way to live life.
    c)This video makes me wonder how the new algorithms that are invented in the future will change our experience with the internet.
    D) The best way to fix this problem is tor try to expand your searches to accommodate the views of those around you. Try to see things from others perspective, and learn about it online.

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  38. A) I didn't know that Google and Facebook edited things out to suite your specific interests and ideologies. I knew that they did, however, show you adds of stores and companies you like (meaning they KNOW your personal information (shouldn't be a shocker to anyone)). I didn't know the stark dichotomy between two people's Google search queries. That was a but shocking to be honest.
    B) If I wasn't paranoid that Big Brother was watching before, I am now. Bust out the tinfoil caps! But in all seriousness, it makes me a little less trustworthy of the content I see on the web and whether it's truthful or if they're not showing me the full story. I just actually searched up Egypt to see what my results were and sure enough, a bunch of news links popped up (given, I am somewhat of a news junky).
    C) Is it ethical to do such a thing? Is the algorithm used for good? Or is it used for evil (ie selling your information to mega-corporations all for money)? What are the implications of this search bias? Does it lead to ignorance and perhaps, an overwhelming sense of correctness?
    D) By being more specific with my search words as well as checking pages other than just the first page of results.

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  39. 1) I learned that even though I searching my own things, the things I am searching are filtered based on certain things. I had an idea that something like this was happening, but this now confirmed my thoughts.
    2)This makes me think that when I find things on Google there might be so many better sites that just arent available to me. I aslo think that It is weird to think that we can google search on two computers and come up with many different options.
    3)This makes me wonder why there is filters. I also feel like it might be a helpful tool, since it might filter out the sites you would otherwise waste your time on.
    4)I think that making certain accounts for certain searches would allow me to go around these filters, keeping the school searches on the school account, and the personal ones on a personal account.

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  40. a)I already knew that many search engines used algorithms to filter out different results for different people, but I didn't know that social networking systems also filtered out friends, followers, etc.
    b)It makes me wonder about how my perspective of something might change all because Google showed me pumpkin pie instead of apple pie. (not literally those two specific choices, but you know, in general.) I mean, how can I fully rely on one link now? I already do, but it makes me want to open up even more links that come up just so that I am somewhat satisfied by the results and resources I may find.
    c) I wonder just how far people go on about life using algorithms instead of actual people. I talked to Cleverbot several times, and though it did pose some funny conversations, it wasn't the same as talking to a real person. I wonder how much humans will rely, and by relying also have to rely, on using algorithms.
    d) I personally don't think I can perfect the effectiveness of my searches. Google will forever be my bias search engine. However, kind of like I do now, I probably will just open up more links and resources that I find, and even if the results may seem convincing, I won't hold them as the absolute, wholesome truth. I mean, life is life. It goes on; theories change. Sure, most facts stay facts because there is no way to disprove them. Now I'm rambling, but I stick the method of clicking as many reliable links as I can.

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  41. a) I learned that Facebook deletes people from your profile that it believes you don't want on there because you are more likely to go to another person's profile. I also never realized that the Internet basically replaced editors for spreading news to the public. I suppose this is because I can't remember a time without the Internet.

    b) I already knew that Google uses filter bubbles to suggest sites that I am most likely interested in. This information doesn't make me think too differently about what I see online, except on how different other peoples' searches look, because it makes it is more convenient if Google predicts what links I may want. However, this could just be because I am not able to see what other options I have which may only appear on a different person's search.

    c) It makes me wonder whether many years from now, the Internet will be able to predict possible future searches based on what you have looked at in the past, possibly even based on your personality type. I also wonder how many links there are on the Internet that won't be a result of my search, but they may be more beneficial to me than the other results.

    d) For me to improve the effectiveness of my search, I am going to look at more than the first five links that result from my search. I will look at the results on the next couple of pages to make sure that I can get the best link for what I want and not what the Internet thinks I want.

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  42. Well earlier today in class while everyone left, my period had a small discussion about Filter Bubbles and what I learned is that Filter Bubbles tailor social media networks to what you want to see unknowingly compared to when you see those advertisements that relate to what your likings and how you see them directly. This information makes me ponder about what I’m really missing out when I’m online researching or just trekking on the internet. Honestly, it also makes me wonder about all the different interfaces other people experience too since the algorithms only tailor to what you want to see. One of my biggest questions that I have is, how do I get rid of this “Filter Bubble” ? I’d rather not have my sources cut off and I’d like to experience the whole spectrum of thoughts, ideas, and opinions. I think I can improve my effectiveness of my searches by being detailed about what I’m trying to research instead of vague.

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  43. a) I learned from the video that the Internet is personalized in a way that cannot necessarily be classed as beneficial.
    b) Previous to watching the video, I had heard some things about complex algorithms being used to personalize our search results and Facebook news feed so that we only received the information that was relevant to us. It seemed like a good idea, but not so much now as I think about it under the context of the information I just recently acquired. We should all have access to the same information, regardless of race, sex, gender, or economic background.
    c) We use the Internet so much and it has become our main source of information...I now wonder if this could be used in a way that the web developers and the corporations that pay them could benefit from. For example, we are only given the information that those guys want us to know.
    d) One way to improve the effectiveness of my search is to search for specific things and dive into the links that my search engine provides me, instead of just clicking on the first few links on the first page.

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  44. A.) I learned that the internet is filtering us, in a shocking way. I learned someone out there was smart enough to come up with algorithms to make people more comfortable when on the internet, but (I’m assuming) unintentionally now cut people off.
    B.) This makes me see the internet as a hugely untrustworthy source! I can’t believe now I can’t even google information now without getting some kind of different dynamic that’s supposed to appeal to me. Is the whole world just an advertisement now? First in the paper, then on the streets, then the TV, and now in the internet, everything is following me. It’s rather disturbing and I don’t like it.
    C.) This makes me wonder exactly how much information about me really IS available online, and how many people can/will access it. I wonder what kind of things I’ve been cut off from, and I want to go through my newsfeed now and check for all of my friends! (Because, if Facebook is trying to cut out the things I wouldn’t like, it’s not doing a good job.)
    D.)I have no idea! How can I get rid of something I can’t see? How can I fight something I don’t understand? I imagine all I can do now is search the same thing on several different computers and hope I hit all the different search pages…

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  45. a. I learned that the internet personalizes the stories we read or click on by past stories we have clicked on. Google, Facebook, Netflix, and even Yahoo news is doing this!
    b. The internet is such an important tool but as it has become more and more personalized, I don't see how it is more of a tool but a toy. I use my computer as a tool. I have it for the purpose of homework and essays or any research I have to do. That is its main purpose. But as I see the internet become personalized to me, although it is a cool idea, I am more and more weary of search results now.
    c. I believe this video is raising the awareness that personalization isn't always a good thing. We need to know true news in the world rather than the gossip that is going on with the real housewifes or who Taylor Swift's next boyfriend is. We need to know the good, the bad, and the ugly, and unfortunately, we aren't getting any of the bad or the ugly unless we search for it ourselves.
    d. To improve my internet searches, I will be much more specific in how I look for things. I will try to search the good and the bad. I personally don't go onto any of the sites that were mentioned but I'm sure there are more out there!

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  46. I learned that sites such as google filter out what they think I won’t want to see based on something that I have already looked up. They show me what they think I want to see. It makes me wonder about all the things I’ve missed out on when i use a search engine. When google only shows me what they think I want to see I’m losing out on knowing all the other stuff that they think I'm not interested in. It raises the question that does the Internet control a lot of what we think. If we only see what it shows us than how much influence does the Internet have on us as a society.

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  47. a.) I learned that there is a mathematical algorithm that your computer processes when you choose to search something up on the internet. It encompasses all of the information of what you have searched for in the past, and keeps this in mind when you want to look up something new. What ever the computer "thinks" you aren't interested in looking up, it will automatically filter it out because you are uninterested or it doesn't match your interests.
    b.) It changes the thought that the internet is like our information oyster. Am I really getting all the necessary information that I need when I want to do something or learn something? The truth isn't always too pretty, and like the video said, "What if we aren't seeing what we need to see?" It makes me think to be more caution with what is popping up on my search engine because there are more answers that are out there.
    c.) Why must the internet have this filter that closes us off from all the information in the world? I can see why... That in a society where we want efficiency and are always on the go, it is one way to "help" us by finding what we need quickly and move onto the next task. This filter bubble system is one instance where personalization for something in particular is a bad thing. In today's modern world, we are so concerned with making things "our own" and tailoring it to our likings, Look at all of our individual blogs as an example.
    d.) I could do more effective searches by going to trusted resources for information. Or be open and do more than one search to see what different comes up. Maybe instead of picking the links that pop up on the first page, I would go to the seventh page and see what links are there

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  48. I learned that we are not as free as we think. Like he said about how at first the internet was our liberation from the editors controlling how much we learn. That turns out to be a lie when major search engines and social platforms make predictions about what information we might want to see. I caught a hint about this when I started noticing that the news slider on a yahoo if I wanted to go back to a story I didn't click on after going to another, It will disappear. If they can do this, what is stopping the government from taking complete control and make the internet into a propaganda machine and we'll be powerless to resist for we could not on a national scale spread are warnings to others. We use to see in schools a poster that said the internet is the gateway to learning. If we are limited by our actions online. Are we learning to be an individual or a puppet? Probably deleting search history and cookies but you can't change your ip address. You are limited and unless you know exactly what you are looking for, you'll be in a endless loop of outdated information.

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  49. a) What new information did you learn from the video?
    I learned that our searches, and what we are exposed to are filtered, not necessarily by the user either. Big sites filter them for us, thus controlling the information I can see due to my few searching habits.

    )How does this information make you think differently about what you see online?
    Makes me feel like the internet is becoming less of a tool, I would like to be able to reference to something online and have a friend be able to find it. But I never asked for my stuff to be personalized either.

    What questions does this video raise about the Internet in general?
    Does this customization of the web search really benefit users? Why do they feel the need to personalize my searches if either way I can get access to information but one way it can be more beneficial?

    d)How can you improve the effectiveness of your searches?
    Improve the effectiveness of my searches by not surrounding myself with junk searches and letting it get personalized to that. In order to accomplish this I have to actually go through the searches not just the first few links that pop up I do not even recall a time where I turn to page 2 for Google searches.

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  50. a.) I learned what filter bubbles are and how companies use them to dramatically change our experiences on the internet.

    b.) I'm now more cautious and suspicious of what I see online. I know that what I'm seeing or an article I'm reading is true, but there's an odd and very dishonest feeling knowing that I was guided there.

    c.) it suggests that the internet is our own little world where people agree with us all the time and we're only aware of the news we want to be aware of. it's imperfect and in a lot of ways it's very fake.

    d.) i honestly have no idea

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  51. a) I learned that the internet isn't as connect as I thought. It is more personalized towards your profile and what responses the internet thinks you should get rather than an clear flow of information.
    b) I believe that the internet now is more geared towards what a person is more interested in. I have noticed that when i am thinking about purchasing a product from Amazon.com or EBay.com, etc. the advertisements for that specific or products that are similar will pop-up in other websites. Has anyone else ever noticed this? Say that you were on Facebook and one of the advertisements on the right column was featuring UGG boots, the same UGG boots that you were looking into purchasing yesterday. Isn't that odd?
    c) Could this be a positive way of the internet regulating our feed?
    d) I do not always use Google.com as a search engine. I use more than two if I am searching for information on a project or at least try to stitch it up every once in a while, when searching online.

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  52. A) I learned that when I search for things that I might not get what I really want to get. Things get filtered out and I hate that because some information would be good for myself and what if someone who has no idea something is going on sees what I really want to see and they just pass over it. These things make this very flawed.

    B) I feel kind of personally victomized by the internet. It's like a secret that your parents or friends won't tell you. It bothers you it gets under your skin and you realize that there is nothing that can be done except to either let it happen or try and figure a way around it.

    C) I want to know why this is happening. I think that we should not let this happen to everyone and can it be shut down.

    D) I think that I personally along with everyone else in the world needs to be more specific to their searches. Saying maybe not just searching "hot dogs" but maybe searching "America's original brand of hot dogs."

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  53. Sorry I tried adding the comment via my iPhone, but apparently it didn't submit... So looks like I'll just have to retype it.
    I learned that the things that I see on Facebook and other sites are circulated around my interests and things that I am drawn to as an individual. The video made me realize that I need to look deeper into how I research things, because google automatically sets my search results to what I am most interested in. The video made me think about how much more is out there in the internet that has absolutely nothing to do with me! (Sometimes that might not be a good thing, but you get the idea.) With these things in mind, I want to try to look at the links on google that I wouldn't even think of looking at first. Like, how there are 100+ pages of results? I'll go to other pages besides 1 first, if that does anything different.

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  54. A.) I learned that what you see whether you're searching or scrolling is tailored towards you and things you have liked or viewed in the past. This just for you approach is flawed though, because it removes the things that are "not for you" and you'll never see them unless you really search.
    B.) It makes me wonder what sites or stories I've missed out on because of the filter.
    C.) How soon will it be until a majority of the world is unaware of the world around them?
    D.) I can try multiple search engines to ensure that I'm getting a wide variety of answers.

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  55. a) What new information did you learn from the video?
    This video IMMEDIATELY reminded me of XKCD's Umwelt (by Mr. Munroe's definition, "Umwelt is the idea that because their senses pick up on different things, different animals in the same ecosystem actually live in very different worlds. Everything about you shapes the world you inhabit--from your ideology to your glasses prescription to your web browser.") The page I linked to actually displays one of about 40 comic strips; the one shown to you is determined by your computer model, your OS, your browser, your window size, your location, even how you navigated to the site. I thought it was a pretty cool novelty... until I watched the "Filter Bubbles" video and realized, "OHMYGAHD. IT'S UMWELT. Except it's real and it's EVIL."

    b) How does this information make you think differently about what you see online?
    This makes me feel like I can't trust the Internet anymore, especially since I use Chrome... that means Google can see EVERYTHING I DO, not just my Google searches... oh god >.<

    c) What questions does this video raise about the Internet in general?
    I was aware that services like Adsense were collecting information about me based on the sites I visit, given the obvious evidence of whenever I visit a shopping website (for example, my favorite clothing brand Express) I get ads for that brand (and sometimes related brands) for a few weeks. However, I was convinced that Adsense was doing a pretty crappy job of it. For example: I go to Express.com, therefore I am an 18-24 year old female who likes Express in particular and fashion in general, therefore I get ads for Express clothing and a few other clothing brands. I visit a lot of anime websites, therefore I am an 18-24 year old heterosexual male who likes Asia, therefore I get ads for Asian women from ChinaLoveDate.com. Everything is really direct and isolated from everything else. It seems to me like it wouldn't be that hard for Adsense to put 2 and 2 together, and conclude from my browsing activity at BOTH websites that I am an 18-24 year old female who likes Asia, and therefore give me ads for Asian men, not women. Even better, I like fashion and Asia, so why not show me ads for Asian clothing companies? C'mon Adsense, I'm not clicking on the Asian women! Haven't you figured it out yet? Aren't you trying to make money off of me?

    However, I realize that Adsense is only what I can see; this video raises the question of how my online experience is altered in ways I CAN'T see. The problem is that I don't know what I don't know, and that bothers me. Especially since I've used Google countless times for some EXTREMELY IMPORTANT searches, given that none of my doctors have been able to cure me (obviously, I'm still hiccupping) and I've basically resorted to doing my own research and trying to figure it out myself in my spare time. If there's something that I've missed because it's been "filtered out," I would be really really really mad, let's put it that way.

    d) How can you improve the effectiveness of your searches?
    I can... install the DuckDuckGo extension for Chrome! Hey look! I just did :D

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  56. a) What new information did you learn from the video?
    I learned that the web and search results all are pointed towards one side of the scale making our information unbalanced and unreliable in a way.
    b) How does this information make you think differently about what you see online?
    It's interesting that just because you agree with one thing Google and Facebook would remove information or posts that you don't agree with.
    c) What questions does this video raise about the Internet in general?
    How do we set the balance?
    d) How can you improve the effectiveness of your searches?
    By searching or talking about thing i disagree with or dislike.

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