The Challenge of Curating Knowledge in the Age of Information

(This article was written by ChatGPT, edited by Mikayla Frost)

In the Age of Information, where data flows to us endlessly from all corners of the digital realm, potentially opening us up to the world around us, one of the most pressing challenges is how to access the information of most benefit to us or even our need. While algorithmically filtered news feeds provide a steady stream of content tailored to our preferences, they also contribute to a disquieting trend:  We become more enclosed in curated bubbles or entrenched in a hole of confirmation bias, missing out on critical events, ideas, and opportunities that exist beyond our personalized digital borders.

Image generated by Meta AI

It's 2024, and for many of us, our social media platforms and online experiences are dominated by algorithm-driven content. For example, my X (formerly Twitter) feed is almost entirely a wall of Bitcoin and election talk, while my YouTube feed is election commentary, Game of Thrones reaction videos, and endless shorts of what the algorithm deems "engaging"—a mix of celebrity culture, entertainment, and eye candy. Meanwhile, Facebook, a platform many turn to for personal updates and local news, is a congestion of suggested pages and promoted content, scattered with an occasional post from friends. Yet, despite being daily immersed in this inundation of information we call the internet, I had no idea that the Renaissance Festival was happening just down the road from where I live in Salisbury, North Carolina, until a customer at work mentioned it in passing.

The incident highlights a broader issue: algorithms, designed to keep us engaged and tuned in, often fail when it comes to delivering information that’s truly relevant to our immediate lives. In fact, their over-reliance on our existing preferences can deepen confirmation bias, reinforcing the same patterns and viewpoints while sidelining fresh perspectives and diverse information.

Take the recent devastation in the North Carolina mountains caused by a hurricane, for instance. Despite living in the state, I saw only one post about it—and that post wasn’t even from a local resident. This begs the question: How did an event of such magnitude get lost in the shuffle of my social media feeds?

The Problem with Algorithmically Filtered News Feeds

The issue lies largely in how content algorithms are designed. Platforms like X, YouTube, and Facebook aim to capture our attention by feeding us more of what we’ve already shown interest in. This constant feedback loop creates echo chambers where the same types of content are recycled, often excluding topics outside our established interests. As a result, we become increasingly disconnected from the world outside our little room--which becomes more confined over time--even what's happening in our own backyard.

The algorithms don’t care about what’s objectively important; they care about what’s likely to keep you scrolling. If your browsing habits show a preference for Bitcoin updates, election news, or entertainment videos, that’s what the platform will continue to feed you. Important news—like a nearby festival or a local natural disaster—gets buried beneath layers of content designed solely for engagement.

Moreover, the constant inundation of information doesn’t leave much room for serendipity—the act of discovering something valuable or interesting purely by chance. The digital age, in many ways, has stripped away the joy of accidental discovery, replacing it with hyper-curated streams of content that reinforce what we already know and believe.

What Are Some Ways Solve This?

While it’s clear that algorithm-driven content filters are far from perfect, there are several potential solutions to help us break free from these echo chambers and reconnect with the broader world.

1. Diversify Your Sources
   One simple solution is to actively seek out diverse sources of information. If you’re getting all your news from social media feeds, consider subscribing to independent news outlets, reading local newspapers, or using news aggregator apps that allow you to customize what you see from a wider variety of sources. Apps like Flipboard, Google News, or Pocket can pull from various publications, offering a more holistic view of what’s happening in your area and beyond.

2. Turn Off the Algorithm
   Many platforms allow users to toggle between an algorithm-driven feed and a chronological one. Switching to a chronological feed—where posts are shown in the order they’re published—can help you see updates from your friends, local events, and important news that might otherwise get lost in the algorithm’s filtering process.  

3. Use or Create Local News and Event Apps
   To avoid missing out on local happenings, like my oversight of the Renaissance Festival, it’s worth checking out or even creating community-driven apps and websites that focus on local events and news. Platforms like Eventbrite, Meetup, and Nextdoor can help you stay informed about what’s going on in your area, from festivals to local issues, in a way that national social media platforms often fail to do.

4. Consciously Expand Your Interests
   If you notice your feeds becoming repetitive, take intentional steps to diversify your interests online. Follow accounts or subscribe to channels that cover topics outside your usual range. This not only helps train the algorithms to show you a wider variety of content but also broadens your own worldview.

5. Advocate for Algorithm Transparency
   A more systemic solution could come from greater transparency and user control over how algorithms work. Social media platforms could allow users to better customize their content preferences, giving us the power to adjust the weight of various factors—like location-based content or breaking news—within our feeds. Advocacy for such changes could push tech companies to design more responsible and user-driven algorithms.

6. Reintroduce Serendipity
   Reclaiming the lost art of discovery might involve deliberately exposing ourselves to randomness. Set aside time to explore content you wouldn’t usually click on, whether that’s reading a news article from a different political perspective, watching a documentary about an unfamiliar topic, or attending a local event you might not have considered.
   
   

Conclusion

In the vast, often overwhelming sea of information we navigate daily, it’s easy to get swept into small corners of the world, leaving out so much of what there is to know. While algorithms are efficient at delivering content tailored to our preferences, they are far from perfect, and their blind spots often come at the cost of meaningful connection to the world around us. By taking proactive steps—diversifying our sources, breaking free from algorithmic constraints, and embracing the unexpected—we can regain control over the information we consume and rediscover the richness of the broader world.

See: Imagining How AI Might Be Used In Curating Knowledge