Work

Do news access pathways moderate filter bubbles? Evidence from a longitudinal analysis of data donations

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: News access pathways shape the informational diversity of users’ news repertoires, with distributed modes such as search and social media generally providing broader exposure than direct navigation. Yet whether these differences produce filter bubble dynamics—gradual narrowing of diversity over time—remains underevaluated. We provide a direct test using donated browsing histories from n = 179 users in the Netherlands spanning approximately 1 year, combining mixed-effects models with a within-between decomposition and a content-level diversity measure capturing semantic differences between consumed articles. Within-person estimates confirm that distributed pathways enhance both outlet and topic diversity relative to direct access. For outlet diversity, search and social media show moderate convergence effects, with their diversity contributions partially eroding over sustained use; topic diversity trajectories show no pathway moderation. The within-between decomposition further reveals that aggregate pathway–diversity associations can mask opposing selection dynamics, underscoring the need for temporally granular, within-person designs when evaluating filter bubble claims.

Source: New Media & Society

DOI: 10.1177/14614448261445423

Authors: Rupert Kiddle, Anne Kroon, Kasper Welbers, Damian Trilling

Institutions: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam

Language: English

Topic: Media Influence and Politics

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,900