Pop the Bubble is a typographic campaign that aims to educate young teens in schools on the dangers of filter bubbles and how to avoid them ︎
Pop the Bubble is a typographic campaign that aims to educate young teens in schools on the dangers of filter bubbles and how to avoid them ︎
Answering the Google Fonts D&AD brief to “create a typographically-led campaign that is a call to action or raises awareness of your subject”
Problem
The biggest issues surrounding filter bubbles is we only see posts, news and information that aligns with our own values and opinions, and are not aware of what is being filtered out. Filter bubbles create echo chambers and lead to confirmation bias. They allow us to believe everyone thinks similarly to us, forgetting about other perceptions claimed to be damaging to our democracy. Additionally filter bubbles are something we have to opt-out of, not something we consent to.Process
Social media is increasingly becoming peoples main news sources, especially for young people, where Ofcoms report shows that Instagram, TikTok and YouTube are the most popular news source for teens (Ofcom). With social medias being controlled by algorithms, filter bubbles are hugely prominent in todays society and dangerous for those teens just getting into politics and using social media, so 13 year old (age limit for TikTok and Instagram) are my primary audiences.Solution
3D spherical posters that can be used in schools for interactive learning to help young teens grasp the dangers of filter bubbles through ignorant statements challeneged agaisnt facts.Posters
Other Touchpoints
It was important that the posters are interactive so that people can pay attention to them and the message can have a lasting affect, so the posters are printed onto “Wubble Bubble” balls that can be played with in schools and playgrounds, whilst still educating children on the issues of filter bubbles.
The “Wubble Bubble” balls are made from synthetic rubber that resembles the bounciness and transparency of bubbles, allowing for natural spherical distortion of typography when printed on the outside. This allows me to express the concept of filter bubbles distorting reality and giving unbalanced views. From the exterior of the posters, all serif type is legible and all san-serif will be printed on backwards. This is to represent the concept of filter bubbles. With secondary school children all having different levels of understanding, It was important I show filter bubbles through examples to allow for all children to fully understand the subject matter.
When the child looks inside the filter bubble balls, a clear, naive message will be legible to them, representing opinions people might have when stuck in filter bubbles. However, when they get out of the bubble and look at the filter bubble balls from the outside, there will be the “difficult and opposing” side, alongside information about filter bubbles and how to “pop the bubble”.
The “Wubble Bubble” balls are made from synthetic rubber that resembles the bounciness and transparency of bubbles, allowing for natural spherical distortion of typography when printed on the outside. This allows me to express the concept of filter bubbles distorting reality and giving unbalanced views. From the exterior of the posters, all serif type is legible and all san-serif will be printed on backwards. This is to represent the concept of filter bubbles. With secondary school children all having different levels of understanding, It was important I show filter bubbles through examples to allow for all children to fully understand the subject matter.
When the child looks inside the filter bubble balls, a clear, naive message will be legible to them, representing opinions people might have when stuck in filter bubbles. However, when they get out of the bubble and look at the filter bubble balls from the outside, there will be the “difficult and opposing” side, alongside information about filter bubbles and how to “pop the bubble”.
My non-traditional touchpoint is keepsake that can be given to secondary school children that repeatedly advices people how they can “pop the bubble”. For this, I decided to create bubble blowers that has advice on how to ensure the algorithm does not hide opposing views. The fun aspect of a bubble blower will keep children repeatedly coming back to the touchpoint so they can be constantly reminded. The name “pop the bubble” is backwards similar with the posters to allow for natural distortion as you look through the transparent bubble blower, however the advice is legible from the outside. The blower is a purple circle to represent the bubbles in my other touchpoint.
The digital element consists of a motion graphics which briefly explains filter bubbles with examples and the dangers. With TikTok rising, especially for young teens, dangerous and bias opinions are easily accessed which can be damaging to their perception of reality. This, therefore, will be an ad that comes up for that demographic on TikTok as a reminder to look at different conversations when on the app. When the users clicks “learn more”, they will be redirected to an Instagram page with further information.
The digital element consists of a motion graphics which briefly explains filter bubbles with examples and the dangers. With TikTok rising, especially for young teens, dangerous and bias opinions are easily accessed which can be damaging to their perception of reality. This, therefore, will be an ad that comes up for that demographic on TikTok as a reminder to look at different conversations when on the app. When the users clicks “learn more”, they will be redirected to an Instagram page with further information.