ClusterMe

Generation of competence for handling information critically

 

The ClusterMe project had investigated the level of personalization in Google Search results and considered the potential for the creation of information filter bubbles. To facilitate this assessment, the ClusterMe team had crafted an online tool: www.cluster-me.com. This tool was designed to quantify and illustrate the disparities among search results different users obtained for identical search queries. Moreover, it offered users an opportunity to evaluate this effect individually and discover information presented to others but not to them.

 

Analysis of the data collected revealed that the search results differed both concerning the links shown and their ranking order. Moreover, for specific search queries, groups with similar search results, distinguishable from others, were identifiable as clusters. However, the differences in these clusters were mainly due to users' geographical backgrounds and language preferences. The information ClusterMe had collected and scrutinized did not endorse the idea that Google's search result personalization was so intense that it could result in information filter bubbles.

                                           

Interested in our tool? Visit www.cluster-me.com and give it a go!

 

Team

  • Marina Able
  • Julian Albers
  • Anna-Lena Fackler
  • Daniel Hernández
  • Kyra Kleine
  • Tilman Knopp
  • Mohammad Youssef Mahfouz
  • Sebastian Mair
  • Rishith Ellath Meethal
  • Janna Nikonov
  • Lea Sophie Seier
  • Nicola Stadler
  • Julian Trummer

Tutors 

  • Thomas Bickel Haase
  • Michael Vetter

Mentors

  • Dr. Hannes Petermeier
  • Prof. em. Dr. Jürgen Scheurle