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Abstract
For this part we looked at the fundamentals of bubbles; what they are, how we can find them and how they influence our opinion. Bubbles are an environment in which its members predominantly encounter information that supports their opinion. There are a lot of different bubbles in society, which we also looked at during this project, but they all have some things in common. We used the 8 characteristics of groupthink from Irving Janis to make clear what these similarities and so-called bubble characteristics actually are. It is hard recognizing if you are in a bubble or not. The only thing you can do is to be aware of their existence, try to look at the broader picture and most important, think for yourself!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se20RoB331w&t=30s
In the video above, the theory of echo chambers/bubbles is explained. Basically, an echo chamber is an environment in which information is bounced back and where people are only confronted with data that supports their view. It is hard to avoid being in a bubble, you need to ‘’zoom out’’ and focus on the broader picture instead of one specific perspective. Checking multiple different sources can help to get complete and objective information.
But what is a reliable source?
Interacting with people from opposing bubbles, when done with respect and patience, can give you an insight into their bubble. This helps to understand their viewpoint better and to see that most topics are not as black and white as they seemed to be in the first place. More information on interaction between different bubbles can be found here. Lastly, it is good to remember that just because you think something is true, your trusted media said it, or your friends believe it, does not make it a fact.
During the first half of our project we looked into different bubbles and explained them by using our self-made infographics. Each infographic represents an issue and two (or more) opposing bubbles related to that topic. Below you can see an example, which is Vera's infographic. This infographic is about the transition that humanity has made, going from a nomadic way of living, to our current industrialized agriculture. Especially with the current discussion about global warming, there is a clear division between people who believe in the success of technology and people who reject it as harmful to our lives. This infographic tries to show this division without forcing the audience to choose a side. In contrast, usually, it is much better to bind forces and work together in order to improve the system.
Irving Janis, a psychologist at Yale University, is known for his research on ''groupthink''. According to Janis, groupthink is what happens when ‘’in-group pressures lead to a deterioration in mental efficiency, poor tasting of reality, and lax moral judgement.’’ (Janis, 1982) This tends to occur in highly cohesive groups, where consensus becomes more important than analyzing problems in a realistic way and finding solutions. These groups can be compared to the earlier discussed bubbles. Janis created the eight symptoms of groupthink, which are typical bubble characteristics.
All in all, it is important to be aware of these bubbles and challenge them, as Adam Greenwood explains this in his Tedtalk about ''Challenge the Echo Chamber''. Adam Greenwood is the founder of the digital agency Greenwood Campbell, which has worked on the technology of, for example, chatbots. He warns us for bubbles and notes that we have to take in mind that we are influenced by many factors, such as online algorithms. These algorithms function as a filter, without us knowing, they influence our information supply. This creates online filter bubbles where you are only confronted with information that suits your opinion and people that you might like, instead of opposing views and people from other bubbles. Although it is hard to avoid these things, it is very important to be aware of their existence.