“The internet is showing us what it thinks we want to see, but not necessarily what we need to see.”
Pariser, E. (2011). The filter bubble: What the internet is hiding from you. Portfolio.
The annoying procrastination
It all started with my procrastination.After deciding to study abroad as an exchange student at Leiden University, I had roughly a month to prepare for the IELTS exam-the golden ticket to my journey. But I’ve always been a chronic procrastinator (thankfully, it’s gotten much better now). Back then, the winter break coincided with this period, and I dived headfirst into relaxation for two whole weeks. It wasn’t until later that I jolted awake to the fact that this exam was coming soon.I then started searching for IELTS-related content on various social media platforms. With time pressing, I couldn’t afford to sit through long courses or lengthy experience shares, which is why REDnote stood out among all the platforms.
Most users here post content in the form of images and texts, and the age demographic aligns closely with mine. The IELTS topic also enjoys high popularity on the platform: many IELTS-specific bloggers offer free study materials (like must-memorize vocabulary and essay-writing tips), while numerous test-takers who scored well share their writing templates and spoken test questions.It felt like a godsend to me back then-perfectly matching my need to quickly access exam materials and test-taking experiences. Thus began my routine of solving practice questions on my own while frequently turning to REDnote for searches.
I let social media lead me by the nose
Due to my frequent searches and Interactions, the algorithm had tailored my REDnote feed to nothing but IELTS content.Gradually, I noticed subtle shifts in the recommended posts. I kept coming across stories of test-takers who messed up their exams and failed to get the required score on the first try, or those who shared that despite acing the Gaokao (China’s national college entrance exam) English section, their IELTS results were only mediocre. With little time left for preparation, I was already anxious.
That’s when big data kicked in again, as if it had detected my unease. I started receiving frequent private messages on REDnote from IELTS tutoring institutions and teachers, most of which were promoting courses and emphasizing the necessity of signing up. At first, I stayed unmoved, but as the messages piled up, I began to waver. Eventually, I replied to one of the bloggers, added their WeChat (similar to switching from Instagram to WhatsApp), and they spent a long time on a call telling me that with so little time left, self-study would be nearly impossible and that I had to find professional teachers. Even though I knew they were sensationalizing the situation a bit, my emotions were fully controlled by social media at that point. In the end, I spent around 300 euros on their course.
How did I get trapped in an Information Cocoon,step by step?
Those 300 euros bought me a vivid example of how algorithms and platforms build an Information Cocoon step by step. Users’ posts, along with their likes, comments, and saves on others’ content, let algorithms capture their recent focuses(such as the tags added to posts). The platform then pushes relevant content on the homepage, gradually forging a closed Information Cocoon within this ostensibly open space.When I showed emotional tendencies, the algorithm kept recommending related content, deepening those feelings further. My engagement with the platform grew stronger, opening up greater possibilities for merchants to profit. The platform shared my data with them, enabling precise targeting and tracking. Thus, the three parties:algorithm, platform, and merchants clutched me tightly in their grip.
Moreover, the information obtained on social media can easily shape our perception of the world. Back then, it made me feel like IELTS was the only thing that mattered in the entire world, simply because it was the only information I could access. Overwhelmed by anxiety, I decided to create a new account on REDnote. Ridiculously, all my problems vanished instantly-since the platform had no clue that this “new” user was preparing for the IELTS.Fortunately, I passed the exam. Later, I switched back to my old account. Even though the exam was half a year ago, I still regularly see IELTS-related content on my homepage now. It seems I never peeled off the layers of the Information Cocoon; I merely slipped out of it briefly, like a cicada shedding its shell.
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