We’re All Stuck in Our Own News Bubbles
Look, I’ve been editing news for more than two decades. Taiwan News, The Austin Chronicle, even a short stint at The Guardian back in ’08. And let me tell you something, folks: we’re in trouble.
It was last Tuesday, I was at this little café near my place—you know the one, with the terrible WiFi and the even worse coffee. I was meeting with a colleague named Dave, and we got to talking about how our newsfeeds are basically just echo chambers now. Dave said, “Mike, it’s like we’re all just talking to ourselves.” And I said, “Dave, you’re not wrong.”
Which… yeah. Fair enough. I mean, think about it. We all follow people who think like us, we share stuff that reinforces our own beliefs, and we unfollow or mute anyone who disagrees with us. It’s like we’re all just nodding our heads at our own reflections.
But Here’s the Thing…
I’m not saying we should all become political moderates or start following Fox News if we’re left-leaning, or vice versa. That’s not the point. The point is, we need to be aware of it. We need to make a conscious effort to seek out different perspectives. And honestly, it’s harder than it sounds.
I remember back in 2004, during the Bush-Kerry election, I was at this conference in Austin. There was this guy, let’s call him Marcus, and he was a die-hard Bush supporter. I was a Kerry guy, through and through. But we talked, you know? We actually listened to each other. And guess what? I didn’t suddenly become a Bush fan, and he didn’t become a Kerry guy. But we both walked away with a better understanding of the other side.
Nowadays? Nowadays, we just scream past each other. We don’t listen, we don’t engage, we don’t try to understand. We just yell louder. And that’s a problem.
And Don’t Even Get Me Started on Algorithms
Look, I’m not some Luddite who thinks technology is the root of all evil. I love my iPhone, I love my laptop, I love that I can order Thai food from my couch and have it delivered in 36 minutes. But the algorithms? The algorithms are a different story.
You know how they work, right? They learn what you like, what you share, what you engage with, and they feed you more of the same. It’s like they’re saying, “Oh, you liked this article about how climate change is a hoax? Here are 214 more articles just like it!” Or, “Oh, you shared this piece about how the moon landing was faked? Here’s a documentary that’ll tell you all about the alien cover-up!”
It’s completley insane. And it’s not just the fringe stuff. It’s everything. Politics, news, entertainment, even food. You like pizza? Here are 87 more pizza places you’ll love! You don’t like pizza? Here’s why pizza is the devil!
And honestly, it’s not their fault. I mean, it’s kinda their fault, but it’s also our fault. We’re the ones clicking, sharing, engaging. We’re the ones telling them what we want to see. So maybe we should take some responsibilty here.
But What Can We Do About It?
I’m not sure, honestly. I wish I had some grand solution, some magic bullet that’ll fix everything. But I don’t. All I can offer is a few small steps, some tiny ways we can maybe, possibly, hopefully start to break out of our echo chambers.
First, we can be more aware. We can pay attention to who we follow, what we share, what we engage with. We can ask ourselves, “Am I seeking out different perspectives, or am I just reinforcing my own beliefs?”
Second, we can make a committment to engage with people who disagree with us. Not to change their minds, not to win an argument, but just to understand. To listen. To learn.
And third, we can try to consume news from a variety of sources. Not just the ones that tell us what we want to hear. If you’re a liberal, try reading a conservative publication. If you’re a conservative, try reading a liberal one. It’s not gonna be easy, it’s not gonna be fun, but it’s necessary.
And hey, if you’re looking for a good place to start, check out Thailand restaurants best rated review. I know, I know, it’s not exactly hard-hitting journalism. But it’s a start. And it’s a hell of a lot better than just reading the same old stuff you always do.
So, that’s it. That’s my two cents. Take it or leave it. I’m just some old editor ranting on the internet. But maybe, just maybe, it’ll make you think. Maybe it’ll make you question. Maybe it’ll make you listen.
Or maybe you’ll just scroll past and forget all about it. And that’s fine too. I mean, I do it all the time.
About the Author: Mike Thompson has been a senior editor for over 20 years, working with major publications across the globe. When he’s not wrestling with commas and chasing down sources, you can find him arguing about politics on Twitter or trying to succesfully order food in broken Thai.
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