As the title suggests, am I trapped in an information cocoon? It is currently presented in the form of a question because I have not yet confirmed if it is indeed true.
What is an information cocoon?
An information cocoon is a concept in the modern internet context, referring to certain individuals who become gradually isolated from the real world due to excessive immersion in the internet. They form an "information cocoon" and find it difficult to break free. These individuals may spend a significant amount of time consuming information on the internet, neglecting relationships and activities in the real world, and even developing resistance towards the real world.
The latest buzz on the internet is the release of OpenAI's chatGPT. Back in late November last year, I had the opportunity to experience it for a period of time when it was just launched, making me one of the first users to try it out.
At that time, it felt like interacting with a fledgling AI. I could clearly sense its immaturity during our conversations, but it demonstrated remarkable learning capabilities, which left me amazed. However, as time passed, its popularity gradually declined, and I rarely used it anymore.
Then, in mid-February this year, it appeared before me once again, sweeping across the internet with great momentum. In just two months, it gained one billion users worldwide, and this number is still exponentially growing. I believe this is largely due to Microsoft's investment, once again proving their exceptional foresight.
As I have been using it these past few days, I discovered that it can enhance or even replace some of my office tools. I can use it to write documents better than I can myself, among other various applications.
However, something puzzled me. When I browse V2EX, Twitter, and other social forums, chatGPT dominates my feed to such an extent that I can hardly find any other news. Half of the top ten posts are about chatGPT. It feels like my information channel is being overwhelmed, which frustrates me, and I start questioning whether I am trapped in an information cocoon.
I carefully examined the characteristics of individuals trapped in an "information cocoon":
1. Bias and extremism: They often only trust information that aligns with their own views and are unwilling to accept different perspectives and evidence.
2. Excessive trust in authority: They tend to treat all information as authoritative without evaluating its reliability.
3. Excessive stubbornness: They are often stubborn in their beliefs and unwilling to accept new evidence and perspectives, even if they are correct.
4. Unwillingness to think: They often prefer to believe others' opinions without engaging in critical thinking and evaluating the accuracy of information themselves.
After self-reflection, I believe I have not reached this level yet. So why do I have this illusion for the title?
Upon analysis, it is highly likely due to the current phenomenon, similar to the previous web3 hype, which was booming but short-lived.
I do not know if chatGPT will follow the same trend or become a groundbreaking product, but I remain optimistic about it.