I didn't even know it was happening.
Yes, I knew "personalization" is a part of Facebook, Google and the like, but I was quite shocked to learn that algorithms are limiting the type of information I get exposed to, even in a Google search. And I have absolutely no say in the matter.
I assumed the internet opened the world to me. I was no longer limited to what a handful of editors in newspapers and television determined should be published. Not true. Now, lines of code are making those decisions for me.
Take 9 minutes to watch this important TED talk by Eli Pariser. Eli is the founder of MoveOn.org but regardless of your political leanings, you will appreciate this eye-opening discussion on a hidden but very important trend.
If you want to learn more, there is also a good Q&A with Eli on the fabulous blog Brainpickings and he also has a new book out on the topic, The Filter Bubble.
Personalization has its upside, but taken too far the unintended consequences are too costly. What do you think?
Thanks for posting !
ReplyDeleteOne of my biggest complaints about FaceBook is that they constantly make changes behind the scenes that the average user never knows about. They do a really lousy job of communicating about changes they make and how it affects your feeds.
Google is shrouded in mystery for the average user; I get that they feel they have to update and change algorithms, so people don't " game " the system.
However, I don't think Google is the end-all be-all when it comes to relevance. When I'm researching for an article, I use different search engines, as I have found that I get completely different results from each and a much broader offering.
Lately, I've noticed that if you're not selling something on your site and offer a physical address for Google Maps, you're not relevant in Google search, even if it's a topic you frequently publish about.
Sometimes we just want information, not where to buy something. Wasn't that the whole idea behind search to begin with ?
Karen - from the publisher side wanting rankings, your observation about the physical location is fascinating and really a disadvantage. Thanks for your comment. I am going to have to start using Bing as a second opinion, though I am sure they do it too.
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