I have been a Facebook user for about seven years. When I first joined, it was because everyone else was, and they told me I should get a profile. It seemed like a cool new thing to do, and a neat way to stay connected with friends. I rarely checked my profile, and I didn’t even use my real name. However, as I got older, I started spending more and more time on the site. Eventually, it became my primary means of communication with my friends whom I didn’t see every day. It was also a way for people to present themselves to each other through the use of photos, status updates, and likes. However, many people nowadays are getting most of their news from Facebook.

Eli Pariser pointed out in his Ted Talk, Beware online “filter bubbles” the ways that Facebook and Google are filtering information that is tailored towards the individual user. In essence, a user who expresses interest in certain topics, through things such as the device used or search history, will begin seeing updates and results that are more related to those subjects. The point in this is so people who are using the internet will see things pop up that they are more interested in. In a society that is becoming more and more reliant on these sites for information, this could be dangerous.

It is scary to think that everyone’s web experience is filtered. Pariser proved his “filter bubble” by telling two friends, one who lives in America and another who lives in Egypt, to search the word ‘Egypt’ on Google. As this was during the Arab Spring, the American got results all about the turmoil in Cairo. However, the friend from Egypt did not receive any results that related to the Arab Spring, but rather travel information. This means that some people may not be receiving the whole truth to the topic they search.

The internet was created to be open-source and free from moderation. However, Eli Pariser directed our attention to proof that this is not the case. Facebook, the most visited website on the internet, is going against the foundation of the web and is moderating its content. It is not allowing users to gain new insights and new information, but rather making it so they see only things they agree with and already know.

The filtering done by these sites is harmful to society. We develop certain views and for society to function these views must be challenged. Facebook and Google are taking away differing views, and thus the ability to challenge is diminished. It is important for users of these sites to keep this filter bubble in mind when browsing and to not become shortsighted.