Are customized search results polarizing opinions?

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

It's probably pretty clear that I would prefer the legislation, with the justification that interfering with access to information by modifying search results is unethical.

In order to make that argument, it is first necessary for a body of research to support the claim that targeted search results interfere with access to information. This would not be difficult research to conduct, and I anticipate that quite a few graduate students would be interested in it as a thesis project, especially given the rise of academic interest in the causes of the increasing polarization of political and social opinion that is occurring globally. To be able to pin a significant proportion of causation on targeted search results could earn some eager young social scientist PhD a respectable name for themselves.

So, to recap:

Phase 1: Spreading the idea that targeted search results interfere with access to information.
Phase 2: Academic research to support or reject the hypothesis that targeted search results interfere with access to information.
Phase 3: Voluntary developer changes to search engine function to make targeted results clearly labeled and easily opt-outable.
Phase 4: Legislation to regulate the degree to which service providers can manipulate search results.

[00.dusk]

I don't disagree with that at all, in fact it's actually a fairly good point. I just think that there's good reason to aim higher than that in the long run.

Not saying you weren't aiming higher (I'm fairly sure you've thought this through in depth), primarily bringing it up in case that point (opt-in is better and worth aiming for) was non-obvious to others.

[Prelate Diogenes Shandor]

Personally I believe a worse problem is sites and forums where users can block off communication with other users and/or where the administrators suspend or ban people for reasons other than posting spam or illegal materials, or making personal attacks. These things ensure that people are not exposed to opinions that differ from their own and that forums are not exposed to opinions that differ from their party line.

EDIT:
Another, less related issue is that both sides push black-and-white thinking. The left acts as if there is no middle ground between respect and hatred, and the right would have you believe that the only alternatives to lassiez-faire capitalism are Stalinism and juche

[minuspace]

Currently overwhelmed by kayfabe leaking in to personal domain - really appreciate thread notwithstanding recent reticence.

[P3nT4gR4m]

EDIT:
Another, less related issue is that both sides push black-and-white thinking. The left acts as if there is no middle ground between respect and hatred, and the right would have you believe that the only alternatives to lassiez-faire capitalism are Stalinism and juche

This isn't an issue, it's a feature. If either side was composed of rational, sane individuals civilisation in general would be way less of a hilarious clusterfuck of a thing.

[MMIX]

EDIT:
Another, less related issue is that both sides push black-and-white thinking. The left acts as if there is no middle ground between respect and hatred, and the right would have you believe that the only alternatives to lassiez-faire capitalism are Stalinism and juche

This isn't an issue, it's a feature. If either side was composed of rational, sane individuals civilisation in general would be way less of a hilarious clusterfuck of a thing.

And there we go with that false equivalence shit again.

[minuspace]

Circus fucking bread and wine.