As I settle into my new retirement/flex time groove, I am dedicating more time to reading, listening and learning from blogs, podcasts and video channels as I find tuning in “on the ground” to learn and reflect with people who openly share really rewarding.
The great find this week was a CBC podcast titled “The Dangers of an Insular Web”. The podcast digs into some important challenges of curating information in a personalized way in our digital online society. Without giving away the details of the interesting panel discussion, if these elements of digital communications tickle your interest, then this podcast is for you.
- open internet
- participatory internet culture
- impact of smart phones and apps, power of geo location to personalize info
- triangulation: tech companies, data, personal use/habits
- triangulation: AI, algorithms, full user control and
- personalizing is a dual edged sword
Whether you are a heavy digital communicator, new to this arena or perhaps a teacher considering media literacies, I am sure you will find this podcast raises your awareness and stimulates your thinking.
Live link to the CBC podcast:
Screened Off: The dangers of an insular web
As always, please consider sharing your learning and thinking through a comment here or connect on twitter.
~Mark
Graphic credit: creative commons license from Flickr user Intersection Consulting .
~ Mark's Musings ~ blog.markwcarbone.ca 
It seems that many of us thought this podcast was a great catalyst for discussion.
I have devoted my #10days10posts work to this podcast here: http://blog.donnamillerfry.com/10-posts-10-days/you-live-in-a-bubble-a-filter-bubble-210/
…as I try to learn more about this topic in an open way.
I’m curious. What about this podcast did you find most fascinating?
Thanks for the challenge to dig into a more specific answer Donna. I have actually taken time to listen through this podcast again before responding. I found a number of elements in this podcast of interest.
1. Underscoring the importance of a participatory culture on the web.
2. The shift from ‘open play’ internet to seemingly more constrained use caused by the design of the manner in which we personalize internet use. The combination of mobile access, location and apps drive content consumption. In contrast, the can diminish the manner in which we use the web.
3. The notion that tech companies shape our internet experiences through app functionality and algorithms and that in turn impacts both the experience and the level of choice. Things that are “likeable and shareable” generally take priority over quality and diversity. Perhaps it is scale over niche.
Consider whether or not these algorithms too tightly connected to perceived social values. In many cases user control over the algorithms is limited or non existent. I might prefer, want or need to see a news feed in straight chronological order where I browse and make my own choices about what to read and in what order.
4. The idea of customizing your internet experience is, on its own, valuable. The question that I have is at what cost?
Now, your question has prompted some other thinking. I have been thinking about how this same question would play out if the internet was taken out of the equation and we looked at other media such as newspapers, television broadcasts or library content. I will take some more time to ponder this question. Stay tuned for a future comment or blog post!
I would be interested to know what captured your interest. Observations? Thoughts? Further questions?
~Mark
Thanks Mark;
I have a few key takeaways:
1) We spend far more times inside apps vs. on the open web (3:1)
2) Web experiences inside apps have become popularity-driven. It’s popularity and newness above diversity and quality.
3) Communication has become images vs. text, feelings over truth, emotion over thinking, sharability over public interest.
4) Algorithms are dividing us into little groups so we can be sold things, and people who understand the web are manipulating it.
5) Digital literacies are essential, not an add on.
Great list Donna. That is such a great podcast. I think the key aspect is your #5 – digital literacy is such a critical skill in today’s world.
~Mark