Why Do We Subconsciously Seek News That Aligns With Our Views and Ignore Inconsistent Ones? (Confirmation Bias)

Hello! That's a great question, and it's something we all experience daily without really noticing. It boils down to a little habit our brains have – a bit "lazy" and craving that "feel-good" sensation.

Let me draw an analogy to explain.

Our Brains Love "Power-Saving Mode"

Imagine your brain processing thousands of pieces of information every day, like a supercomputer. To save power (i.e., conserve cognitive resources), it unconsciously takes shortcuts.

Familiar paths are easier: Accepting an idea that aligns with your existing beliefs is like driving down a familiar road you take every day – easy and effortless. But encountering a viewpoint that contradicts yours is like being forced to drive through an unfamiliar, complex mountain pass. You need intense focus, checking maps and signs – it's exhausting.

So, to "save energy," the brain instinctively "filters out" information that requires effort to understand and process – the inconsistent stuff. It prioritizes smooth, agreeable information that prompts a quick "Yeah, I agree, next!"

We Crave the Pleasure of Validation

This is also tied to our emotions.

Confirmation = A Mental "Like": How do you feel when you read an article that perfectly matches your own thoughts? Isn't there a sense of "See! I told you!" or "Great minds think alike"? This feeling triggers dopamine release, making you feel pleasure and confidence. We naturally seek this out.
Challenge = A Mental "Thumbs Down": Conversely, if an article tears your viewpoint apart, it feels uncomfortable, even like your intelligence or judgment is under attack. This creates cognitive dissonance and discomfort. To avoid this unpleasantness, our brains act like they have an "ad blocker," automatically ignoring or downplaying information that makes us uncomfortable.

This is the Famous "Confirmation Bias"

The term you mentioned is spot on. Confirmation bias is our tendency to seek out, interpret, and remember information that confirms our pre-existing beliefs, while ignoring or misinterpreting information that contradicts them.

This bias triggers a chain reaction:

Selective Exposure: This is the first step. Armed with confirmation bias, we start "picking and choosing" information. For example, if you support Team A, you'll unconsciously click more on news about Team A winning or players excelling. News about Team A losing or facing negative rumors? You might just glance at the headline and scroll past.
Information Cocoon & Echo Chamber: When "selective exposure" persists, a serious consequence emerges. Your information sources – the accounts you follow, the bloggers you read, the content algorithms recommend – become an echo of only what you like and want to believe.
- An Information Cocoon is like weaving a comfortable "cocoon" from this agreeable information, insulating yourself from differing voices.
- An Echo Chamber is even more vivid. You shout "Team A is the best!" in this room, and all you hear echoing back is "Team A is the best! Best! Best!" This reinforces your belief in your own absolute correctness because you hear no dissenting voices.

Algorithms Supercharge This

In today's world, social media and news app algorithms are superchargers for confirmation bias.

They meticulously track what you like, comment on, and how long you view things. To keep you engaged longer and happier (so they can make money), they relentlessly feed you more of the same. Over time, it becomes hard to even encounter opposing viewpoints.

How to Counter It?

Completely eliminating confirmation bias is impossible; it's baked into our brain's basic code. But we can consciously "counter" it:

First, Acknowledge Its Existence: Like you're doing now, realizing "Oh, I have this tendency" is the most crucial step.
Actively Seek Out Discomfort: Deliberately read articles or news presenting opposing views. You don't have to agree, but at least understand "So this is their reasoning: 1, 2, 3." This is like "strength training" for your brain, making your thinking more comprehensive and resilient.
Focus on "Facts," Not Just "Opinions": When consuming news, try to distinguish between objectively reported facts and the author's commentary or opinions based on those facts.
Talk to Real People: Engage in conversations with friends or colleagues who hold different views. Real dialogue makes it easier to understand their perspective, rather than simply labeling them as "wrong."

In short, we instinctively favor news that aligns with our views because our brains want to conserve energy and because we want to feel good. This is a very normal human tendency. But understanding it and consciously working to balance it makes us smarter and more open-minded.