Thesis Background Outline
Below is the outline for how my background will look like. I expect every numbered point to take about one to two paragraphs.
Story
1) Give the read a clear visual of just how big the internet is and the scale of the information that is in it. We want to make sure they understand just how much “stuff” gets added to the internet on an hourly basis.
2) Reaffirm to the reader that we are able to parse and “surf” through all this content through “information networks”, like Google Search and Facebook Newsfeed.
3) Clarify how much power the algorithms in these networks have in shaping our lives. Mention how those algorithms control the information we receive, which affects the daily decisions we make.
4) Show the failures of these types of software, including especially how they are vulnerable to misinformation and filter bubbles. Explain why such things are bad for society.
5) End with the thesis’s fundamental question: can we do better? Can we develop software that allows for peer-to-peer sharing of information that does not create those issues while also delivering a higher-quality browsing experience to users?
Definitions
Information Network [A software that aggregates different information and gives it to users]
Push Software [Software where content is pushed to you, like Facebook’s newsfeed].
Pull Software [Software where you directly query for content, like Google Search]
Algorithms [I will be using a definition that goes beyond Knuth’s technical meaning of the word]
Misinformation
Filter Bubbles