Conspiracy Theories: Are We Living inside a Filter Bubble?
Should we worry about filter bubbles in the Netherlands? Does the spread of conspiracy theories pose security dangers? Is there an algorithm to break filter bubbles? Join us at this symposium to find out! (English / SG-Certificate*)
Watch the registration of the symposium:
Filter bubbles, conspiracy theories, the ‘fabeltjesfuik’: chances are you have heard many of these words in one sentence trying to explain the spread of conspiracy theories. But let’s take a few steps back: what is a filter bubble? Do we need to worry about them? And if so: what can we do about them? Can algorithms break filter bubbles? And what is actually a conspiracy theory? Our four speakers will answer these questions and more during the annual symposium of Study Association Flow.
Speakers
Dr. Piia Varis (keynote speaker) is an associate professor at the Department of Culture Studies at Tilburg University. She will address how and why filter bubbles and conspiracy theories worry most people. Also, she will discuss what role memes play in the spread of conspiracy theories and in our political climate at large.
Dr. Damian Trilling is an Associate Professor for Communication in the Digital Society at the Department of Communication Science of the University of Amsterdam. He will tell us what filter bubbles exactly are, what worries there are about them, and whether these are legitimate concerns.
Dr. Jelle van Buuren is a lecturer and researcher at the Institute of Security and Global Affairs of Leiden University. He received his PhD on a study of conspiracy theories and systemic hatred. He will tell about conspiracy theories specifically, how they spread and whether they result in legitimate security issues.
Dr. Cynthia Liem is an assistant Professor at the Multimedia Computing Group from TU Delft. Her research focuses on the algorithmic surfacing of information that users would not discover by themselves. She will discuss whether it is possible to break an online filter bubble and other ways to broaden your online horizon.
More information
Contact: Oskar Knötschke (Studium Generale).
* For students, this event may count towards the SG-Certificate. Check the SG-Certificate website for all the terms and conditions.
