After watching the TED video on Filter Bubbles, I wasn't surprised. I did really enjoy the illustrations though and the overall quality of the speech.
After re-doing my William Shakespeare search with Filter Bubbles in mind, (I used Dogpile instead) I got all the same results with a few new sources. I got sources from Google that I got on Bing and on Yahoo. It is as if all of the search engines use and collect the same signals I give off. I never use Bing and Yahoo, yet I get from them what I get from Google. Almost, like there is some big library all about me, that these engines go to to make the best tailored search.
I thought I could use different search engines but if they all make me the same tailored suit of information, how can avoid this Filter Bubble dilemma?
On my third search attempt, I changed my search terms; this time only typing, "Shakespeare."
And I received some different sources: First about fishing tackle. Nothing to do with the playwright. Second, about virtual monkeys compiling all of Shakespeare's work. And some different Ads.
I have noticed that all the sources I get have one thing in common: They give me Shakespeare's complete works.
Not coincidentally, on my first search attempted, I went only to sites with Shakespeare's complete works. So, now, perhaps due to the bubbles, I am getting more sites like those I already looked at.
Trying to see the Filter Bubbles by myself is rather difficult.
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