Eugina Leung
Assistant Professor
Biography
Professor Leung's research explores the influence of technology on consumer judgment and how it can hinder identity-based consumption. She also examines the role of language and culture in shaping consumer responses. Her work has been published in the Journal of Marketing Research and the Journal of Consumer Psychology.
She received her PhD in marketing from Erasmus University in the Netherlands and served as a visiting research scholar at the University of Chicago and the University of Zurich. She holds a master's degree in economics from Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Spain and a bachelor's degree in business administration from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Education
Erasmus University
Universitat Pompeu Fabra
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Media Appearances
Internet search results often reinforce a person's existing beliefs
It’s easy to believe that the internet is an open door to knowledge. A place where a user’s search leads to discovery. A tool for understanding new ideas, correcting mistakes, or seeing both sides of a debate. But in practice, something very different is happening.
How Online Searches Reinforce Beliefs and Divide Us
In an era marked by polarization, researchers have found that even neutral search engines can lead people deeper into digital echo chambers. It’s not necessarily the technology that’s biased—it’s the way we use it. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows that when people look for information online, they tend to type search terms that reflect what they already believe. This subtle habit, combined with algorithms designed to deliver the most “relevant” results, reinforces existing views rather than challenging them.
