Mediaboss Marketing

Samuel LaHoz

A group of experts faced off on the motion "When It Comes to Politics, the Internet Is Closing Our Minds" at an Intelligence Squared U.S. debate on April 17 in New York City.

On the Internet, it's easy to find like-minded people and to frequent sites whose content you already agree with. And the online world is increasingly tailored to individual preferences and interests including search engines serving up more personalized results for your queries.

But are we running the risk of getting trapped in information bubbles, where all we read and see falls in line with our political views?

A group of experts took on that topic in the latest Intelligence Squared U.S. debate. They faced off two-against-two in an Oxford-style debate on the motion "When It Comes to Politics, the Internet Is Closing Our Minds."

Before the debate, the audience at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at New York University voted 28 percent for the motion and 37 percent against, with 35 percent undecided. Afterward, the vote was 53 percent for the motion, with 36 percent against meaning the side arguing the Internet is closing our minds carried the debate. (Eleven percent remained undecided.)

The April 17 debate was moderated by ABC News' John Donvan. Those debating were:

FOR THE MOTION

Eli Pariser (left) and Siva Vaidhyanathan argued that "When It Comes To Politics, The Internet Is Closing Our Minds."

Eli Pariser (left) and Siva Vaidhyanathan argued that "When It Comes To Politics, The Internet Is Closing Our Minds."

See the rest here:
Is The Internet Closing Our Minds Politically?