What a filter bubble is
Launch library · evergreen read
A filter bubble describes the narrowed range of information a person encounters online as a result of personalised algorithms that prioritise content based on their previous behaviour, gradually surrounding them with material that reflects their existing preferences, a nuance that shapes how it plays out, a fact that shapes how it is used.
Unlike an echo chamber, which often involves a person's own choices about who to follow or engage with, a filter bubble can form largely without deliberate action, simply as a byproduct of how a platform's recommendation system is designed to maximise engagement, which is easy to take for granted.
Being aware that a feed is shaped this way encourages a more deliberate approach to seeking out information, such as directly visiting a range of sources rather than relying solely on whatever a personalised feed happens to surface, something worth bearing in mind, as many close observers have noted over time.