Time Travel: 2014

Although Lin Hui only had an information gap of a few years, such an information gap was enough for Lin Hui to do a lot of things.

For Lin Hui, in this seven-year lag in time and space, everything can really be changed, as long as Lin Hui is willing to do it.

However, if Lin Hui wants to change himself, change the world he knows, and change the things he criticized in a new and better direction, then everything still needs to be based on the present.

Based on the current matter, compared with some trivial matters.

A very important thing before Lin Hui now is:

——Lin Hui wants to break out of the information cocoon as soon as possible.

The concept of "information cocoon" comes from Sunstein's book "Information Utopia" (2006).

Sunstein believes that in information dissemination, people's own information needs are not comprehensive, and they only pay attention to selecting the information they want or that can make them happy.

Over time, the information people are exposed to becomes more and more limited and narrow.

This phenomenon is like the silk spun by silkworms, wrapping itself up finely and tightly, and eventually being trapped in an "information cocoon" like a baby silkworm, losing its ability to understand and contact with other different things.

At that time, his view was only as an inference and prediction.

After all, when Sunstein first proposed the "information cocoon", although people had a certain understanding of algorithms, this understanding was very one-sided.

At least from today's perspective, the understanding of algorithms in information technology was still quite vague at that time.

Especially people at the time were simply unaware of the power brought by algorithms.

When algorithm technology gradually matures and becomes a common rule for content distribution.

People were surprised to find that the "information cocoon room" had quietly arrived.

In today's era, there is a massive explosion of all kinds of information.

The massive explosion of information makes the Internet extremely rich in information, which can be said to be all-encompassing and everything you need.

In such an information-rich Internet, people's freedom to receive information has increased unprecedentedly.

People have a dazzling array of information products to choose from.

Of course, after the user makes a choice, there are actually countless pairs of "eyes" watching your choice.

What controls these eyes are various recommendation algorithms.

Under the influence of these algorithms, you will find that the pertinence of your push information will be greatly enhanced.

What users have paid attention to and are interested in.

The network intelligence system will track calculations and continuously push relevant information to you.

Frankly speaking, the original purpose of this algorithm was not necessarily to block users.

The reason why there is such a push mechanism is just to make it easier for people to obtain information.

But on an objective level, this recommendation system makes it easier for people to lose themselves.

Fall into the environment created by the "information cocoon".

People pay attention to the information that interests them, and network intelligence systems "monitor" them.

Constantly focus on unique and homogeneous information dissemination.

The result is that people become so focused on their own personal gratification that they are completely indifferent or inattentive to other information.

End users consciously or unconsciously close themselves in a small circle.

In such a small circle, the homogeneous interaction of information often strengthens their interests and opinions.

And leads to obsession and paranoia about certain things and ideas.

This in turn greatly reduces the possibility of communicating with others and limits the overall perception of the objective world.

Gradually, people unknowingly fell into the "information cocoon".

All of this may sound incredible.

The Internet is such an open space.

Instead, will it form a closed "information cocoon"?

Thinking about it carefully can even make people feel terrified.

But this is the fact, and the signs of the information cocoon may not be obvious yet.

But if it develops like in the previous life.

In the next few years, each software will carefully recommend content that users prefer under the careful outline of the algorithm.

It is common for users to live in their own little world.

The situation Lin Hui faced now was very similar to facing an information cocoon.

After all, Lin Hui's main method of obtaining information was through various websites.

After all, the information network you want to gain access to on various websites has limitations and is even misleading to a certain extent.

Maybe the information Lin Hui saw was just what the people behind it or the algorithms based on various big data wanted Lin Hui to see?

Compared with the "information cocoon/room" built by various social networking sites based on algorithms.

For personal social interaction, "cocoon rooms" similar to those existing in the information space may also exist.

In previous lives, there was a special term for this kind of thing called "social stratosphere."

Behind the concept of "social stratosphere", which is similar to "information cocoon/room", there are no technical means such as algorithms and big data.

However, there are still specific reasons for its formation.

According to the summary of people in previous generations, the reasons for the formation of the "social stratosphere" are nothing more than two major factors:

The first reason is naturally one’s subjective preference for information;

The second biggest reason is the "social circle" around everyone.

Individuals' subjective preferences for information are easy to understand.

After all, everyone has their own preferences for radish and green vegetables.

Some people use certain music every day, while others are almost insulators in the byte system.

And what does it mean when it comes to the “social circle” around an individual?

As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together, and people flock together.

In the real world, people will always get close to people who are like-minded, intentionally or unintentionally, and stay away from those who have "different views".

In cyberspace, people do much the same thing.

With the help of network technology and subjective choices, people will also tend to choose information that is similar to their own ideas, and reject information with opposite positions.

It can even be said that the above-mentioned behavior is almost a social preference engraved in human genes, which is understandable.

This practice of dividing people with different ideas into far and near has ultimately led to a relatively isolated "social stratosphere" around everyone.

"Stratospheric" was originally an atmospheric concept. It first referred to the stratosphere in the atmosphere. In the stratosphere, the atmosphere basically maintains horizontal flow, with less vertical flow.

The flow of information around people in the "social stratosphere" is very similar to the stratospheric atmosphere.

There is a lot of horizontal information flow, but very little vertical flow.

Although there may be a lot of information that you come into contact with, it is basically quite limited. .