User perspectives on filter bubbles

Abstract: This study derives from a located a gap in the methodological coverage and ways inwhich filter bubbles previously have been problematised. It is structured to through auser perspective to find ways in which users navigation and experience is influencedby personalised consumption. Through interview studies of digital natives, two mainfocuses of navigation and experience have been chosen with the aim to bring nuancedperspectives to the current state of filter bubbles. The first, using the theoreticalframework of uses and gratifications sets out to answer: In what ways do digitalnatives navigation contest the personalisation of their news consumption?I found that most interview participants have developed both thorough and individualways of navigating in their news consumption process. Personalising filters are bysome seen as assets to optimize content and by others as thresholds that enforcerestrictive behaviour. However, most participants seem to be mildly concerned orunaware of personalising features in their news navigation.The second focus of user experience seeks to clarify the motives behind usernavigation by answering: In what ways do digital natives experience of theirnavigation contest the personalisation of theirs and others news consumption?I find that some participants consider the impact of their own interactions withtheir personalised consumption, but do not understand the extents of it. I also find thatshared social norms and traditional media permeate the critical view that allparticipants carry with them through their navigation. I use these findings to introducea suggestion to problematise personalisation through user experience as a way ofbenchmarking filter bubbles that to my knowledge have not been used before.Lastly, by looking at the navigations and experiences of the participantsthrough a theoretical framework of power, I conceptualise their interactions asmotives of counter power towards a personalisation to answer:How can the motives of digital natives navigation be contextualised as acts of counterpower towards their personalised news consumption?I identify both interactions as motives of counter power with some participants’ newsconsumption, and experiences of subjectivity to power in others. But can’t determineto which extents it relates to the personalisation or other factors in the participantsnews consumption.