Devising a nudge to avoid filter bubbles

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the means of forming an environment that allows users to be exposed to a variety of information, which is prevented by the filter bubble. The filter bubble refers to the fact that users are surrounded by information of their choice based on personal data such as search history and posted content. While previous studies have suggested positive claims about the efficiency and rationality of filter bubbles, they have also mentioned the dangers of filter bubbles, such as the polarization of ideologies and the possibility of social fragmentation that accompanies them. In this paper, we examine a nudge that expose people to a variety of information, and conduct a controlled experiment with and without the introduction of the nudge. We suggest that the findings from this study will help to solve problems such as fake news and hate, which may lead to the division of society.