Which of the following best describes the term for the practice of selecting media sources that align with your beliefs?

• A. Selective exposure
• B. Selective perception
• C. Confirmation bias
• D. Echo chamber

Answer: (A)

Selective exposure describes the practice of choosing media sources that align with your beliefs. This happens when people seek out information that confirms what they already think and avoid sources that might challenge those views. It helps explain why someone’s media diet can become one-sided and more polarized over time.

Selective perception, by contrast, is about interpreting information in a way that supports your preconceptions after you’ve encountered it. Confirmation bias is a broader pattern of favoring information that confirms beliefs, including how you interpret or remember evidence. An echo chamber describes the social environment that results when a group consistently exposes itself to like-minded perspectives, reinforcing shared beliefs.