Watch this TED talk. https://www.ted.com/talks/eli_pariser_beware_online_filter_bubbles?language=en The problem comes into play when you are surrounded by people and ideas that enforce your world view. There is a reason religious cults practice segregation and demonize the outside world. Liberals who do nothing but read and interact with other liberals, to use an example, reinforce the good parts of being a liberal, and then also reinforce the idea of "Anyone who does not think like I do is s stupid redneck who hates women and wants to pave the earth." same thing with any ideology that can become an Identity. then, when someone comes along and says "oh that is not correct" and tried to counter you with facts, you dig down and believe your worldview even more. The Backfire Effect is real, I've watched it in action, and I have been guilty of it myself. Start talking about cutting NASA, R&D, and educational funding and I have to fight my gut reflex to call you a dumbass, take a breath and read what you are saying before I can react to it. That seems wrong, don't it? But Humans are not rational creatures. We had to invent the scientific method as a way of processing data to take our biases out of the observable universe and to prevent our ingrained ideology from contaminating what is really going on outside out heads. A conservative should read at least one liberal paper, web site, blog etc., if for no other reason than to know what the other side is saying. A christian should read atheist/Buddhist/Shinto philosophy to see how close some of what they are saying is to Christianity. Listening to the contrary view can help you better understand YOUR reactions to the world, see the problem through someone else to get a bit of perspective and, when you are ready to debate you know the talking points the other guy is going to use and can counter them. The final thing to think about is that humanity grows when it faces a challenge. We as individuals grow and become better people when we see difficult situations and learn to deal with them.Can you expand on those darker parts? I never heard of hug boxes before you've mentioned it. Links to the articles alone would be fine.
That's a great deal of detail on opinion bubbles many communities act as. I particularly appreciate how you present scientific method as a counterbalance to our natural bias mechanism, or, perhaps as a supplementary system. Is there anything else as obscure or not immediately obvious that one should be wary of on the Internet?
Well, honestly, you have to fight it. There is no easy answer. If you believe "A" then find people who think "A" is wrong and see why they think opposite you. Ignore the screeching extremists for the most part, but do occasionally check them out so you know what language they use. In the US we call certain phrases and words "Dog Whistles" so that the nut jobs know you are on their side, but no scaring away the moderates. The point here is not to get you to change your worldview. The point of doing this is to get you to see your beliefs through the eyes of the opposition so that when you get outside your filter bubbles you can debate intelligently. Nothing disarms someone faster than saying that you read on THEIR media (talking point here). That, and leaving your filter bubble will lessen the risks of you becoming an extremist yourself.