It’s pretty discomforting how much various websites keep track of every move as a way to sell that information and make you the product. I have worked on analytics systems myself and it’s jarring how much information is being recorded about you. While some are benevolent such as gathering data to enhance UX and optimize the application for the user, others have ulterior motives. I’m guilty of having extensive analytics on my website as well though I don’t sell it to anyone and it’s only for personal use: keeping track of my traffic. That doesn’t make it a good thing though.
The Bubble
Social media has been using this goldmine to have you more engaged with the content and hopefully click on ads. While when you sign up for the first time, the content is more varied, soon, without realizing it, the content you get is based on your political views and beliefs. If you’re liberal, most of the content you’ll see is posts about liberal politics while if you’re a conspiracy theorist, you’ll find articles that fit your views.
Your hobbies and interests are also taken into account and suddenly the ads will match your automotive passions with ads for selling car parts. It’s scary how websites know what search queries to suggest because of a conversation you had on the platform.
The bubble keeps us comfortable and protects us from content that we find bothersome or even offensive. You’ll constantly see things that match your views isolated from everything else. It’s not a coincidence that social media websites use subtle cues to discover your preferences. Every website has its own metrics and techniques but I’ll keep this outside of the scope of this discussion for simplicity.
Escaping the Bubble
This is the tricky part, you need to start viewing things that you don’t agree with. Visit websites from people with views opposite to yours and follow those with whom you disagree.
I’ll keep my political views aside for now but I noticed that content that seemed ridiculous to me is what others believe in. I used to judge these people but I’m starting to realize that those with opposing viewpoints are actually windows to other people’s minds. The truth is, they are just as confident as I am in what they read. The production quality of popular mediums about any opinion is excellent. So it’s tempting for all of us.
In addition, reading opposing news has made me realize that I could be wrong about something, and maybe, what other people are saying is actually true. It opened my eyes quite a bit and now my opponents sound less crazy.
This kind of behaviour is what prepares you for good conversation and finesses your debating skills. You’ll be forced to listen to the other one say something while you compare it with your own ideas. Just admit it, when watching debates online, you skip the parts of the opponent to listen to your preferred orator.
Minimize Tracking and Ads
With ad-blockers such as uBlock Origin, you can block tracking domains and leave your traces as much as a secret as possible. Almost every website has at least Google Analytics plugged in and it will be made useless for tracking you. Also, the ads will be invisible so you’ll be free from solicitation.
Conclusion
We’re living in a world where specialization in academia is keeping us in a test tube life where you only know what you’re studying. We stay home only knowing our families and nothing else. Our world is becoming more and more homogenized and even worse isolating. Even within our own circles, debates become awkward silence. Valuable conversations become impossible and our selection process becomes tuned to those we agree with.
Our perception of reality is black and white and the nuances won’t appear until you take off your rose-coloured glasses. The world we live in is imperfect and what other way to be mindful and accept it like that is by seeing all the different colours.
Widen you’re breadth and see your views grow, foster and become more varied.