Lesson video

Hello, my name's Ms. Powell and welcome to Computing.

I'm so pleased that you decided to join me here today.

In today's lesson we'll about social media bubbles and how the content you see is tailored by your internet history.

Let's get started.

Welcome to today's lesson from the unit Online Safety.

Today's lesson is called Social Media Bubbles, and in today's lesson we'll identify the impacts of filter bubbles and fake news.

We'll be using these keywords throughout today's lesson.

Let's take a look at them.

The first word is filter bubble.

Filter bubble: this means an online phenomenon whereby the content you see is different depending on your internet history.

The next word is echo chamber.

Echo chamber: this is a space online or offline where you're only exposed to like-minded content or opinions.

The last word is fake news.

Fake news: this is news that contains deliberate disinformation.

Lesson outline.

Social media bubbles.

This lesson is split into three sections.

In the first section we'll describe filter bubbles.

In the second section, we'll recognise how to spot fake news, and in the third section we'll identify ways to break a filter bubble.

Let's get started with the first section: Describe filter bubbles.

What is a filter bubble? The bubble, also known as a filter bubble or a social media bubble, is an online phenomenon whereby the content you see is different depending on your internet history.

It's a situation in which an internet user encounters only information and opinions that conform to and reinforce their own beliefs caused by algorithms that personalise an individual's experience.

For example, if I like cats and often spend my time searching the internet for funny cat videos, I'll naturally be presented with more cat videos the next time I log on.

A filter bubble is a byproduct or sometimes the objective of big data collection and optimization algorithms. Big data are data sets that are large and complex.

Examples are personalised retail recommendations based on customer behaviour.

Social media.

On social media platforms, data such as: likes, comments, shared content, events, and your interests will be used to determine what content you're presented with.

This means that the content provided is personalised to you.

This can support you in accessing information related to your interests and opinions.

However, this might mean that you're not signposted to content outside of your interests or opinions, and it may skew your judgement of the world around you.

Echo chambers.

An individual's bubble can reinforce their opinions or beliefs by only showing them content that is similar to content they already liked and engaged with, creating an echo chamber.

In my example, if I like cats but dislike dogs, I'll be presented with more information that confirms that cats are the best pet.

I might even be presented with information with negative portrayals of dogs.

This confirms my opinions that cats are the best pet.

An echo chamber is a space online or offline where you're only exposed to like-minded content.

Here within the diagram you can see that the people within their echo chamber, they're only surrounded by people who have the same opinions.

There may be lots of content based on differing opinions that is not immediately accessible to you.

Search engines.

In search engines, your data will also be used to personalise your experiences online, including: your location, links you've clicked on, your search history.

In terms of filter bubbles, this means that two people could search the same term online, but based on their search history, they could receive very different results.

Let's search about milk.

Person on the left receives information about milk and chocolate milk and also about milk for baby formula.

However, the person on the right receives information about sheep's milk, cow's milk, and goat's milk.

These search results are based on their search history.

The person on the left may have previously looked up how to make hot chocolate, whereas the person on the right may have an interest in alternative milk products.

I'd like you to fill in the blanks.

Filter bubbles and echo chambers.

The bubble, also known as a blank or a social media bubble, is an online phenomenon whereby the content you see is blank depending on your blank.

An blank chamber is a space where you only see information from blank people.

Choose the words here in purple: like-minded, internet history, filter bubble, different and echo, and fill them in the blanks.

Pause the video to try the task.

Let's check the answers.

The bubble, also known as a filter bubble or social media bubble is an online phenomenon whereby the content you see is different depending on your internet history.

An echo chamber is a space where you only see information from like-minded people.

True or false? Two people could search the same term online, but based on their search history, they could receive very different results.

Pause the video and have a quick think.

Is that true or false? The answer's true.

Why is that? The content that two people see could be very different.

The searches will be personalised based on data such as their location, the links they've clicked on or their search history.

I have a task here for you.

I'd like you to describe the filter bubbles.

Filter bubble matching activity.

Five different people enter the same word "Australia" into a search engine and they all got different search results.

Number one, match the people to their search results.

Number two, describe filter bubbles in your own words.

These are the profiles: Person A, a 21-year-old student who regularly reads travel diaries and searches for job opportunities.

Person B, a 65-year-old retired teacher who watches a lot of animal documentaries and follows a lot of wildlife organisations online.

Person C, a 34-year-old IT manager who plays for a local rugby team and often streams rugby matches online.

Person D, a 47-year-old property owner who advertises online their business buying and restoring houses.

Number one, match the person to their search results.

The search is "Australia." The results are: www.

rugby.

au, the Australian Rugby team's most recent match results; www.

online-vids.

com.

Online videos of England versus Australia rugby matches; www.

rugby.

com, a website listing international rugby fixtures.

Pause the video and have a quick think.

Does that search match person A, B, C, or D? The answer is person C.

Well done.

Let's try the next search result.

The search was "Australia" and the results are: www.

wildlife-volunteer.

au, advert for volunteer wildlife programme in Australia; www.

online-vids.

com, an online video channel for an Australian bat sanctuary; www.

travel-aus.

com, advert for plane tickets to Australia.

Pause the video and have a quick think.

Does that search result match person A, B, C, or D? The answer is B.

Fantastic.

Let's match the next search for "Australia." This time the results are: www.

properties.

au, advertisements for properties to buy in Australia; www.

aushousing.

com, a blog discussing the Australian housing markets; and www.

auction-homes.

com, an Australian TV show where homes are auctioned.

Pause the video and have a quick think.

Does that match person A, B, C, or D? The answer is D.

Let's try the last one.

Match the person to their search results.

The search is "Australia" and the results are: www.

gap-year.

au, advert for gap years in Australia; www.

immigration.

gov.

au, an Australian immigration website; www.

ausjobs.

com, an Australian job site.

Pause the video and have a quick think.

Do those results match person A, B, C, or D? The answer is A.

Number two.

I have another task here for you.

I'd like you to describe filter bubbles in your own words.

Pause the video to finish the task.

I'd like to give you some feedback.

In a filter bubble, the content you see online is linked to your internet history.

Because of this, the content you see online can be very different to what other people see.

Although this can be helpful in showing me the types of things I'd like to look at, it can create an echo chamber.

This could be damaging as it would only show me like-minded content and might cause me to have one-sided opinions." An echo chamber is a situation where you're surrounded by information and opinions that primarily reinforce your existing beliefs.

It's like being in a physical echo chamber where sounds bounce back and forth and you can only hear what's amplified within the combined space.

You primarily encounter perspectives that align with your own, leading to strengthening of your own existing viewpoints.

You're less likely to encounter information that challenges your beliefs, potentially hindering your understanding of different perspectives.

Well done, that brings us to the end of the first section, Describe filter bubbles.

Let's move on to the second section.

Recognise how to spot fake news.

What is fake news? Fake news is deliberate disinformation or hoaxes spread through traditional media or social media sites.

Fake news is not a recent phenomenon, but the internet and artificial intelligence, AI, has made it easy to create and spread fake news.

Filter bubbles and fake news.

Fake news can spread quickly within a filter bubble as people often have similar opinions or share the same views.

So in my example of where I think cats are the best pets, I could see fake news describing how dog fur is bad for your health.

This fake news article could have AI generated images which make it look very believable.

Likewise, it could have been shared by lots of people who I follow who are on my social media and it could have lots of likes.

When presented with this information, I might then believe it to be true and that will only strengthen my opinion that cats are the best pet.

This can be dangerous as people liking, sharing and agreeing with a news story may make you more likely to believe it.

It is important to know how to spot fake news.

Which of these headlines are fake? "Drinking age at American theme park may be lowered to 18." "America is set to ban all gas stoves to reduce emissions." "Environmental activist faked being held by police." Pause the video and have a quick think.

They all are, but how do you know? How do you identify fake news? When you are online, how do you tell the difference between real and fake news? Pause the video and have a quick think.

When you read a news story online, you can ask the following questions to check whether it might be fake: Number one, is there enough information to determine whether the content is still relevant and comes from a reliable source? Here we've got an article from the Daily News.

The slogan is "News that's too good to be true." The content here is "Scientists discover planet made entirely of cheese.

Space Agency say it's brie-liant, but the Swiss are sceptical due to lack of holes." The next article is "Florida Man Declares Sovereignty, renames Backyards Snackville; now accepting biscuits as official currency." and the last article here is "Time traveller returns from 3025, shocked to find VidShare still popular.

'Also cats have taken over Congress,' he added." Is there a name and a photo of the author or is the article posted by a community member? Is there a date on the article and is it recent enough that the story is still relevant? Number two, this website is www.

dailynews.

com/adverts/freebies.

Fake news sites may have lots of popups and adverts or the article itself may be an advert.

Here I find the URL suspicious as it describes adverts and freebies.

Number three, does the content seem exaggerated, unbelievable, or appealing to emotions such as fear and anger? Here in these examples, several of them seem unbelievable.

Remember to check your own biases when deciding whether or not information is believable.

True or false? Fake news spread slowly within a filter bubble.

Pause the video and have a quick think.

Is that true or false? The answer's false.

Why is that? Fake news can spread quickly within a filter bubble as people often have similar opinions or share the same views.

Liking, commenting or sharing fake news can give the story credibility and may mean people are more likely to believe it and share it.

It may not be easy to spot fake news at a glance, but there are lots of quick cheats you can do to verify the story.

Number one, search for the headline.

Is the story corroborated by other websites? Number two, investigate the author.

When you search for their name, do you find other articles that they have written? Do a reverse image search.

If the story relies on evidence in the form of photos, reverse image search them to see whether they have been edited.

One way of avoiding fake news is by sticking to trusted news sources, instead of reading the news from articles shared on social media.

Will using these sources ensure you never encounter fake news? Pause the video and have a quick think.

Whilst using trusted news sources is a good way to prevent yourself from viewing fake news, you must be mindful that if you do click on a link outside of that website, that link could take you to a website which does have fake news on it.

I have a task here for you.

I'd like you to fill in the blanks.

Recognise how to spot fake news.

Fake news.

Fake news is deliberate blank or hoaxes blank through traditional media or social media sites.

Fake news is not a blank phenomenon, but the blank has made it easier to blank and spread it.

Use the words here in blue: spread, disinformation, recent, internet, and create.

Use them to fill in the blanks.

Pause the video to have a try.

Well done.

Let's check the answers.

Fake news is deliberate disinformation or hoaxes spread through traditional media or social media sites.

Fake news is not a recent phenomenon, but the internet has made it easier to create and spread it.

I have another task here for you.

I'd like you to think of ways in which you can tell if a new story is fake or not.

Create a checklist to support someone else in spotting fake news.

Pause the video to finish the task.

I'd like to give some feedback.

Create a checklist to support someone else in spotting fake news.

This is Alex.

Alex says, "Always check that the date is recent.

Make sure the author's name is included and check out their authenticity.

Search for the headline to see if it appears on other sites." Fantastic, that brings us to the end of the second section, Recognise how to spot fake news.

Let's now look at the third section, Identify ways to break a filter bubble.

How do you break the filter bubble? Pause the video and have a quick think.

Consider how you might change your internet activity to break out of the filter bubble.

Number one, stay updated through neutral news sources.

About half of the population get their news from a social media website, which means they're often seeing only one side of the story.

How can using neutral news sources help to burst your filter bubble? Pause the video to have a think.

Stay updated through neutral news sources.

If you read the news from a news site that is considered neutral, you're more likely to see both sides than if you only engage with the news that is brought to you.

Additionally, if you read or watch the news actively, instead of being updated in bits and pieces through your timeline, you're more likely to get the full picture.

Number two, be critical of the world around you.

How can being critical help you avoid a filter bubble? Pause the video and have a quick think.

Be critical of the world around you.

If you come across a new story on your social media feed, especially one that supports your opinion, investigate it by looking for other sources that corroborate or disagree with its contents.

Which skills have you learned in this unit that could help you to be critical? Pause the video and have a think.

Think about the story.

What are they trying to say? Is this an ad or a joke? Look to see if you can find the same story somewhere else.

Think about the author.

Is it someone's opinion or a fact? Real news will most likely have a link to the writer's details, but if there's no author, dig deeper.

The website.

Are there spelling or grammar mistakes? What's the URL? Check the address bar at the top.

Most trusted URLs end with.

com,.

co.

uk,.

net,.

gov,.

org,.

mil, and.

edu.

Check the date.

Is the story recent or old? It could be outdated or a copy of something that's happened years ago.

Computer programmes called bots post anytime and often, so be wary of this.

Number three, turn off the curated feed function.

What is the curated feed function and how does it contribute to a social media bubble? Pause the video and have a good think.

Turn off the curated feed function.

Some social media sites decide what you see based on your engagement activity.

If you like or share a post, you're more likely to see similar posts or posts by the same creator in the future.

You're also more likely to see posts that are popular with other people in your network.

Organise your feed by most recent post.

An alternative approach is to organise your feed by most recent post.

This shows you all the content created by the people in your network in the order it was made.

This approach is less likely to show you a biassed view or only show you content that reinforces your existing opinions.

Number four, interact with people you disagree with.

Why is it good to hear from people with different opinions to your own? Pause the video and have a quick think.

Why is it important to be careful when seeking out alternative viewpoints? Pause the video and have a think.

Interact with people you disagree with.

When making connections on social media sites, you should be aware of who you're connecting with and who you are ignoring or blocking.

While you don't have to expose yourself to material that is upsetting, try to follow or friend some people with a different opinion to yours to remind you that there are often multiple sides of the same story and not everyone sees the world in the same way as you do.

So my example to try to get out of my echo chamber, if I think cats are the best pets, it might be a good idea to follow content made by people who love dogs.

This doesn't mean I like cats any less, but it does prevent me from forming negative views about dogs which may be unfounded and unfair.

If you're unsure of where to start, challenge yourself to learn about something new.

For example, a new sport, fandom or area of activism.

Find people who are vocal about this subject and follow them.

By including their voices in your feed, you'll be exposed to new ideas and perspectives.

Match the word to the definition.

You've got cookie, filter bubble, curated feed and neutral news.

The definitions are: an unbiased news source, a social media feed where the content selected aligns with the user's interests or opinions.

A small piece of code that tracks your activity on a website, an online phenomenon whereby the content you see is different depending on your previous internet history.

Pause the picture and see if you can match the word to the definition.

Let's check the answers.

A cookie is a small piece of code that tracks your activity on a website.

A filter bubble is an online phenomenon whereby the content you see is different depending on your previous internet history.

A curated feed is a social media feed where the content selected aligns with the user's interests or opinions.

Neutral news is an unbiased news source.

Number five, stop websites from collecting data on you.

What are cookies and how do they contribute to your filter bubble? Pause the video and have a think.

Cookies are small pieces of code that track your activity on a website.

They tell a website how you're using the site.

This can improve your experience of the website, but can also contribute to your filter bubble by allowing the website to only offer you similar content.

Big data helps to train the algorithms that separate us.

Websites assess the content you read and engage with and use this to offer similar content or to tailor advertisements towards your interests.

You can prevent this from happening by using an ad blocker and disabling cookies.

Use a search engine that does not filter your results.

Why might a search engine filter make your life easier? What problems could it create? Pause the video and have a think.

Use a search engine does not filter your results.

Some search engines do not create profiles on their users or optimise searches for each user profile.

Instead, every user receives the same search results for the same search terms. True or false? You shouldn't follow anyone who disagrees with you.

Pause the video and have a think.

Is that true or false? The answer's false.

And why is that? You should try to follow some people with a different opinion to yours to remind you that there are often multiple sides to the same story and not everyone sees the world in the same way as you do.

I have a task here for you, I'd like you to try it.

Use the key terms below to create some top tips to identify ways in which people can break a filter bubble.

The key terms are filter bubble, ad blockers, curated feed, disagree, critical and neutral news, cookie, and unfiltered search engine.

Pause the video to try the task.

I'd like to give you some feedback.

Top tips to break a filter bubble.

This is Alex.

Alex says: "Disable cookies to stop websites collecting data on you.

This means they can't track your browsing habits and curate your content.

Don't rely on the news in your timelines.

Actively seek out neutral news stories to ensure your view isn't one-sided.

Interact with people you disagree with or have different interests to expose yourself to new ideas and perspectives." Fantastic.

Let's summarise social media bubbles.

Social media bubbles can be created by big data processes.

They exacerbate the harms of fake news and make it harder to come to a consensus on how the internet should be regulated.

Fake news is a term given to information online that is deliberately misleading.

To break a filter bubble, you can disable cookies to stop websites collecting data on you, turn off the curated feed function on social media and interact with people you disagree with.