When you search Google you expect to see the entire Internet, right? When you check Facebook, you expect to see updates from all your friends, right? Wrong.
Google, Facebook, Amazon, NetFlix and countless other companies are personalizing their sites for us. They’re showing us things based on our location, demographic info, likes and dislikes. It’s all about “relevance.” The concept sounds good, but the end result could leave each of us in our own little bubble surrounded by news, content, media and people that agree with us… or at least agree with our past preferences.
This has some very significant spiritual implications which Kurt Steinrueck wrote about in an excellent post on Christian SEO Guys. It’s well worth the read and includes video of a fascinating TED Talk given by Eli Periser on this topic.
Check out: What Aren’t You Seeing On the Internet
Does it concern you that Google, Facebook, and other sites are personalizing information for us in ways we have little control over and may not even be aware of?
Co-founder & CEO, OurChurch.Com
Paul has been the CEO of OurChurch.Com since its founding in 1996, combining his passion for faith and technology to lead the organization.
An accomplished writer, Paul has authored over 2,000 articles on faith and technology, featured on platforms like ChurchLeaders.com, The JoyFM, and his personal blog, LiveIntentionally.org.
Beyond his professional achievements, Paul serves as an elder at Journey Community Church and is deeply engaged in his community through his involvement with the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranch and the Safety Harbor Chamber of Commerce. He is a contributing author of the book Outspoken! Conversations on Church Communication.
4 Comments
This is a really good article. I didn't realize that Facebook took things out of the news feed. Thanks for sharing!
It's hard to know what isn't there, isn't it?
True that. 🙂
I completely agree with you, Google and Facebook are hiding a lot of things from us. Thanks for sharing this amazing article with us.