The danger of self-imposed blinders

Continuing with the theme that I seem to be developing here - what happens when individuals choose to censor themselves? A recent NPR story (full text online, or listen to the piece) detailed the increasing popularity of religious search engines that only present results consistent with the community's beliefs. For example, SeekFind, Jewogle (IMHO asking for a copyright infringement lawsuit - though I do enjoy the pun) and I'mHalal censor search results that contradict the tenets of Christianity, Judaism or Islam, respectively. I searched for birth control, the death penalty and masturbation on Seekfind, and the filters seem pretty effective. I also Jewogle'd bacon, and was greeted by Google Ads for "Bigger, Better Bacon" along with testimonials from Orthodox Jews who had tasted the forbidden pork. The same search on I'mHalal turned up mostly recipes. The search engine does a better job at controlling information about premarital sex, however.

Users of these search engines maintain that there is nothing wrong with restricting your own access to information. The NPR article quotes one I'mHalal user:

He says the search engine offered him content that he can trust would be appropriate for him as a practicing Muslim. And he is much more comfortable allowing his teenage son to surf the Web using I'mHalal. For example, a search for “sex” would return results giving the Islamic view on sexuality.

A SeekFind user explains that “It’s no more censorship than if I find something on television that I find offensive to me and I could change the channel.” In the US and in many other country, the law holds that freedom of speech must be balanced with respect for community standards of decency in order to protect minors. For the same reason, many parents use smart chips and parental controls to prevent their children from being exposed to pornography or other offensive material. Others take it a step further and campaign to ban books from schools and public libraries. More recently, the Texas State Board of Education made a number of ideologically based changes to the curriculum, including revoking Thomas Jefferson's status as a Founding Father because he was an atheist. As Texas is the largest textbook market in the country, this decision is already impacting millions.

Moreover, the attitude exhibited by the SeekFind user confuses information with entertainment. While citizens in a liberal society are entitled to their own tastes and values, and have the right to change the value when "True Blood" comes on if it offends those tastes and values, they are not entitled to their own facts. The world is a complex, confusing place, and the facts rarely present a clear-cut case for one view or policy option. Human psychology already predisposes us to notice data that confirms our existing views and ignore contradictory information, and these ideological search engines transforms confirmation bias from a danger into an ideal. So while using these search engines doesn't constitute censorship, it my view they are a dangerous for society. You don't have to believe information that contradicts your faith, but you do have to consider it and be aware of opposing viewpoints.