Filters are necessary to find value amongst all the noise.
We know that traditional content is filtered and polished by whoever has the power to alter the initial product before it is put out there. It prevents overabundant content (like Sturgeon's law) from ever polluting the world. But if our individual filters are strong enough and powerful enough, then maybe more is better. We can decide for ourselves what to filter through.
What we really need is better and stronger guidance and recommendations. And we are moving to the recommendation age by taking the power into our own hands, collaborating and sharing our opinions. We need recommendations from other people, we need reviews from reputable sources, we want technology to aid us without strong outside bias, and we want it to be free.
Recommendations and conversation are important, crucial, helpful, and just dandy. I embrace them. What concerns me is the power filters hold over our society.
Will we fall too far into specifically altered worldviews - filtering out what doesn't interest us? Don't we already do this, to some extent anyway? Will this translate into our reality? Will we eliminate others, being submersed in a world of our own interests?
Interesting point! What products do we really want? Well - Google, Bing, Apple and any Android phone seem to know the answer. Common search engines and app stores are said to prefilter a lot of information, data and offers that in the upshop are not presented to us due to our very own search history. We do not ask for what we do not want. We usually type in at Google for what we are looking for. And these huge searche engines slowly seem to relieve us of making critical, educated choices...
ReplyDeleteI agree,I think the dangerous side to filters is the possibility of limiting ourselves too much. What if you have a wild hair and want to do something different from the norm? Or what if there is some other great talent that is outside of your usual? Many people are on a constant identity search in life and filtering only complicates that search even more.
ReplyDeleteSusan, you make a couple of good points. Thank you for making me think on this topic more about the 10% good content, or what we think is subjectively good about what we are filtering for. This filtering can sometimes become so far out that some can no longer relate to the majority. I believe in having many choices, but I also believe that relating to others around me and sharing what each person likes about different topics is very important. I think many people have eliminated others as you asked, "Will we eliminate others, being submersed in a world of our own interests?" The internet has provided a great escape for many into a realm of endless long tails and some have become so immersed that they can no longer have real conversations about real things anymore. It will be
ReplyDeleteThere are already some people who have applied too many filters and have isolated themselves into select subcultures so far from the norm or what some might make up a "well-rounded" person. It is great to experience niches both as a consumer and producer, but there should be balance between reality and hobby.
I think we are starting to filter conversations; whether in the classroom, debates, or work environment. And if individuals and filtering audio content how do we know there are credible enough to post recommendations on products or news content that we try to consume.
ReplyDeleteTHinking about wanting everything to be free isn't enough. I think producers who want to have high and quality recommendations from their consumers will need to provide compensation. Because nothing is ever free.