Filter Bubble, Selective Exposure, and Integrative Complexity
Filter bubble which may be described as technology-induced selective exposure has become a prevalent topic of discussion in our time. Selective exposure or an individual’s tendency to seek confirmatory (as opposed to non-confirmatory) information related to a choice, leads to ill-informed decisions. Ill-informed decisions entail unintended consequences for individuals, communities that they belong to, and the larger society. Selective exposure also debilitates integrative complexity which is an individual’s tendency to perceive and process different views on a specific topic. Breaking filter bubbles, alleviating selective exposure, and enhancing integrative complexity can lead to sustained societal progress. IT field with the vast number of controversial topics can help students practice seeking non-confirmatory information and processing them when making arguments or choices. In this study we report set up and preliminary results of field experimentation that were designed to investigate selective exposure and integrative complexity of information elaborations in asynchronous online discussions.
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