---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The proliferation of material means that…"
description: "\"“The proliferation of material means that people might start to become selective about what they consume and, if my instincts are correct, they are lik..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36c/una-mccormack-43320_confirmation-bias_the-proliferation-of-material-means-that_376292.jpg"
---

#  The proliferation of material means that people might…

![“The proliferation of material means that people might start to become selective about what they consume and, if my instincts are correct, they are likely to read only that which confirms what they already know. This means they will never have their ideas tested. I worry that as a result, people…” quote by Una McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36c/una-mccormack-43320_confirmation-bias_the-proliferation-of-material-means-that_376292.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36c/una-mccormack-43320_confirmation-bias_the-proliferation-of-material-means-that_376292.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36c/una-mccormack-43320_confirmation-bias_the-proliferation-of-material-means-that_376292.jpg)

> ““The proliferation of material means that people might start to become selective about what they consume and, if my instincts are correct, they are likely to read only that which confirms what they already know. This means they will never have their ideas tested. I worry that as a result, people will form tight groups around those who confirm their biases, mistrusting those whom they encounter who think differently.””

[Una McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/una-mccormack/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Abundant content leads to selective consumption, reinforcing existing beliefs and limiting exposure to opposing ideas, which creates echo chambers and distrust of dissenters.

**In simple terms:** Too much choice makes people only hear what they already agree with.

Key Takeaway

Seek diverse viewpoints actively.

Themes

bias echo chambers media consumption groupthink

Mood

concerned reflective

Type

analytical critical

When to use this quote

- social media feeds
- news reading
- academic research
- political discussions

Key Concepts

confirmation bias information overload social identity

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we encourage openness to contradictory information?
- What habits break echo chambers?

A Different Perspective

People may resist confronting uncomfortable facts even when presented.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Confirmation-bias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confirmation-bias/) [News media](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/news-media/) [Proliferation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proliferation/) [Public opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-opinion/)

## Related quotes

> [“ahead. The proliferation of material means that people might start to become selective about what they consume and, if my instincts are correct, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/una-mccormack/ahead-the-proliferation-of-material-means-that-people-might-start-to/)

[Una McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/una-mccormack/)

> [We all want things that are not necessarily essential, but we always choose those actions which we think will best improve the situation from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-l-greaves-jr/we-all-want-things-that-are-not-necessarily-essential-but-we-always/)

Percy L. Greaves, Jr

> [Thinking is the desire to gain reality by means of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/thinking-is-the-desire-to-gain-reality-by-means-of-ideas/)

[Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/)

> [“In the West we have been taught an individualistic stance which means that we 'own' ideas, a concept which would be foreign to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-owen/in-the-west-we-have-been-taught-an-individualistic-stance-which-means/)

Sarah Owen

> [Entrepreneurs are natural problem-solvers, which means that we always have ideas for new businesses popping into our heads. Having a lot of options is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/entrepreneurs-are-natural-problem-solvers-which-means-that-we-always/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [“What I tried to make clear in Good Calories, Bad Calories was that nutrition and obesity research lost its way after the Second World…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-taubes/what-i-tried-to-make-clear-in-good-calories-bad-calories-was-that/)

[Gary Taubes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-taubes/)

> [“In the mid 1980's I was asked by an american legal institution known as the Christic Legal Institute to compile a comic book that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/in-the-mid-1980-s-i-was-asked-by-an-american-legal-institution-known/)

[Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/)

> [“Confirmation bias is the most effective way to go on living a lie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/confirmation-bias-is-the-most-effective-way-to-go-on-living-a-lie/)

[Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/)

> [ “Most of us are not really approaching the subject \[scriptures\] in order to find out what Christianity says: we are approaching it \[them\] in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/most-of-us-are-not-really-approaching-the-subject-scriptures-in-order/)

[C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/)

> [“Let us, thusly, embrace the assumption that to each advocate of a respective paradigm within his respective bubble, the phenomenological gaps between himself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashim-shanker/let-us-thusly-embrace-the-assumption-that-to-each-advocate-of-a/)

[Ashim Shanker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashim-shanker/)

> [“Given the level of understanding and the fact that they believed already in a set of myths and superstitions, it was the easiest and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-stinger/given-the-level-of-understanding-and-the-fact-that-they-believed/)

[Mario Stinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-stinger/)

> [“With enough mental gymnastics, just about any fact can become misshapen in favor to one's confirmation bias.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/with-enough-mental-gymnastics-just-about-any-fact-can-become/)

[Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/)

> [“It was a good answer that was made by one who when they showed him hanging in a temple a picture of those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/it-was-a-good-answer-that-was-made-by-one-who-when-they-showed-him/)

[Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/)

> [“People are always clinging to what they want to hear, discarding the evidence that doesn’t fit with their beliefs, giving greater weight to evidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/people-are-always-clinging-to-what-they-want-to-hear-discarding-the/)

[Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/)

> [“Even if these researchers do see the need to address the problem immediately, though they have obligations and legitimate interests elsewhere, including being funded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-taubes/even-if-these-researchers-do-see-the-need-to-address-the-problem/)

[Gary Taubes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-taubes/)

## More by Una McCormack

> [“One doesn't commit evil actions in the belief that one is acting wrongly. What allows one to commit such acts is the belief that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/una-mccormack/one-doesn-t-commit-evil-actions-in-the-belief-that-one-is-acting/)

[Una McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/una-mccormack/)

> [“ahead. The proliferation of material means that people might start to become selective about what they consume and, if my instincts are correct, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/una-mccormack/ahead-the-proliferation-of-material-means-that-people-might-start-to/)

[Una McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/una-mccormack/)

> [“You have to educate people first— you can't let them go out and vote for whatever they want! You don't know what you'd end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/una-mccormack/you-have-to-educate-people-first-you-can-t-let-them-go-out-and-vote/)

[Una McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/una-mccormack/)

> [“We are our own worst enemy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/una-mccormack/we-are-our-own-worst-enemy/)

[Una McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/una-mccormack/)

> [“Everyone was poor, but it was out in the open, not tucked out of sight below bridges.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/una-mccormack/everyone-was-poor-but-it-was-out-in-the-open-not-tucked-out-of-sight/)

[Una McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/una-mccormack/)

> [“One benefit of getting older is that you no longer care how eccentric you look. I have embraced this in recent years, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/una-mccormack/one-benefit-of-getting-older-is-that-you-no-longer-care-how-eccentric/)

[Una McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/una-mccormack/)

> [“Why do I feel as if I'm about to hear a sentence passed?' 'Why do you feel as if you should?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/una-mccormack/why-do-i-feel-as-if-i-m-about-to-hear-a-sentence-passed-why-do-you/)

[Una McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/una-mccormack/)

> [“Tell me what this means," Dax said. "I'm a busy woman with a ship to run and a crisis to handle and I've surrounded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/una-mccormack/tell-me-what-this-means-dax-said-i-m-a-busy-woman-with-a-ship-to-run/)

[Una McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/una-mccormack/)

[Explore all 9 Una McCormack quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/una-mccormack/)

## More Confirmation-bias quotes

> [“People are always clinging to what they want to hear, discarding the evidence that doesn’t fit with their beliefs, giving greater weight to evidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/people-are-always-clinging-to-what-they-want-to-hear-discarding-the/)

[Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/)

> [“It was a good answer that was made by one who when they showed him hanging in a temple a picture of those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/it-was-a-good-answer-that-was-made-by-one-who-when-they-showed-him/)

[Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/)

> [“With enough mental gymnastics, just about any fact can become misshapen in favor to one's confirmation bias.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/with-enough-mental-gymnastics-just-about-any-fact-can-become/)

[Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/)

> [“Given the level of understanding and the fact that they believed already in a set of myths and superstitions, it was the easiest and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-stinger/given-the-level-of-understanding-and-the-fact-that-they-believed/)

[Mario Stinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-stinger/)

> [“Let us, thusly, embrace the assumption that to each advocate of a respective paradigm within his respective bubble, the phenomenological gaps between himself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashim-shanker/let-us-thusly-embrace-the-assumption-that-to-each-advocate-of-a/)

[Ashim Shanker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashim-shanker/)

> [ “Most of us are not really approaching the subject \[scriptures\] in order to find out what Christianity says: we are approaching it \[them\] in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/most-of-us-are-not-really-approaching-the-subject-scriptures-in-order/)

[C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/)

> [“Confirmation bias is the most effective way to go on living a lie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/confirmation-bias-is-the-most-effective-way-to-go-on-living-a-lie/)

[Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/)

> [“In the mid 1980's I was asked by an american legal institution known as the Christic Legal Institute to compile a comic book that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/in-the-mid-1980-s-i-was-asked-by-an-american-legal-institution-known/)

[Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/)

> [“What I tried to make clear in Good Calories, Bad Calories was that nutrition and obesity research lost its way after the Second World…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-taubes/what-i-tried-to-make-clear-in-good-calories-bad-calories-was-that/)

[Gary Taubes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-taubes/)

> [“Even if these researchers do see the need to address the problem immediately, though they have obligations and legitimate interests elsewhere, including being funded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-taubes/even-if-these-researchers-do-see-the-need-to-address-the-problem/)

[Gary Taubes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-taubes/)

[Browse all 11 Confirmation-bias quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confirmation-bias/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The proliferation of material means that people might start to become selective about what they consume and, if my instincts are correct, they are likely to read only that which confirms what they already know. This means they will never have their ideas tested. I worry that as a result, people will form tight groups around those who confirm their biases, mistrusting those whom they encounter who think differently.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Una McCormack"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/una-mccormack/the-proliferation-of-material-means-that-people-might-start-to-become/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Confirmation-bias"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/una-mccormack/the-proliferation-of-material-means-that-people-might-start-to-become/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36c/una-mccormack-43320_confirmation-bias_the-proliferation-of-material-means-that_376292.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36c/una-mccormack-43320_confirmation-bias_the-proliferation-of-material-means-that_376292.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36c/una-mccormack-43320_confirmation-bias_the-proliferation-of-material-means-that_376292.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The proliferation of material means that people might start to become selective about what they consume and…” — Una McCormack",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Una McCormack",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/una-mccormack/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The proliferation of material means that...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/una-mccormack/the-proliferation-of-material-means-that-people-might-start-to-become/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/una-mccormack/the-proliferation-of-material-means-that-people-might-start-to-become/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
