filter bubble

American  

[fil-ter buhb-uhl] / ˈfɪl tər ˌbʌb əl /

noun

1. a phenomenon that limits an individual’s exposure to a full spectrum of news and other information on the internet by algorithmically prioritizing content that matches a user’s demographic profile and online history or excluding content that does not.

   My roommate streamed so many arthouse flicks on my account that she confused the filter bubble—the recommended movies page thinks I’m some kind of fancy-pants intellectual now.

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verb (used with object)

1. to cause (a person) to have such a limited online experience through the predictive algorithmic filtering of content.

   We are being filter-bubbled into homogeneous peer groups by social media platforms.

Etymology

Origin of filter bubble

Coined by Eli Pariser (born 1980), U.S. political and internet activist, in The Filter Bubble (2011)

Example Sentences

I also wondered, as Claude adds more memories to my digital file, am I unknowingly creating my own filter bubble?

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

“Within a filter bubble, there’s an informational barrier that limits opposing viewpoints and the introduction of diverse types of content,” Huang said.

From The Verge • Sep. 11, 2020

Second, we had been guilty of creating our own filter bubble, by relying too much on a particular type of voter found in a particular place.

From The Guardian • Dec. 3, 2019

It was dubbed "the ultimate filter bubble" in a Wired editorial that attacked the network.

From BBC • Oct. 27, 2018

What’s different about Correctiv is its ability, with help from Facebook, “to get into the filter bubble of the people who are reading fake news,” says Kramm.

From Time • Aug. 9, 2017