With this interactive playful test about the filter bubble effect you will find out how much you’re stuck in your filter bubble.

Filter bubbles result from personalized searches when a website algorithm selectively guesses what information a user would like to see based on information about the user (such as location, past click-behavior and search history). As a result, users become separated from information that disagrees with their viewpoints, effectively isolating them in their own cultural or ideological bubbles. The choices made by these algorithms are not transparent.

Most people never heard of filter bubbles and their dangers. Specifically kids and teens use the internet as sort of self expression without knowing the consequences. That’s why I designed an easy, understandable and playful test about the filterable effect, providing information about how to get out of it as you can’t avoid being filtered unless you intervene actively. The test is relevant for everyone, but designed for workshops and lectures at schools to teach the conscious use of the internet and online-media.

The test itself works as kind of a filter bubble algorithm as you can answer questions with Yes or No. The questions are encrypted, so you have to use provided tools to make them transparent and readable. These tools are stencils that you have to put on the right question. On the stencils there are some side information about the content of the question. Once you’ve answered all questions you reach one of the three solution options that tell you how deep you are stuck in your own filter bubble and they give you advices how to get out of it. The solution package is written on extra postcards, so you can take them away to use them as a manual at home.

There is also a free online version of the filter bubble test, but without the playful stencil tools.

In addition to the web and workshop version of the test, I also created a editorial booklet version without the stencil tools. As you will answer the questions with Yes or No you will be directed to the next page with the next question. The booklet has a size of DIN A5, so it is very handy and easy to use. It’s got the same principles like the workshop test, but is much more made for interested people of all ages.

Designer
Lisa Jasch