The Bubble of Confirmation Bias (Critical Thinking About Digital Media)

Confirmation bias is the tendency of people to interpret, remember, and specifically seek out information that confirms beliefs they already have. It's part of how the human brain works. Being aware of its existence and how it can creep into your life is the best defense. A growing feeder of confirmation bias in the modern world is the internet, particularly social media, where it's easy to surround yourself with a "bubble" of like-minded people. In this text we will explore the ways that the social media bubble encourages confirmation bias, and how to combat it.