# Confirmation Bias Confirmation bias is a tendency to interpret information in such a way that it confirms one's prior beliefs or values, to selectively pay attention to the data that already conforms to those beliefs, and to seek out sources that confirm those beliefs. It is especially prevalent in [[Echo Chambers]]. Overcoming confirmation bias is difficult, as it requires actively seeking out information that contradicts one's beliefs, and being open to changing one's mind in light of new evidence. This requires admitting (primarily to ourselves) that we were wrong, which can be challenging. Confirmation bias has become an increasingly significant problem in the age of [[Social Media]], because [[Social Media Platforms Are Echo Chambers by Design]], and [[Echo Chambers Cause Polarization]]. ![[Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid#^dyggqn]] A Revisionist History episode [[Saigon, 1965]] is an interesting episode that explores how confirmation bias affected intelligence analysis during the Vietnam War.