Algorithmic Influence

Algorithmic Influence

Black Boxes and Invisible Fences

Brief

How we experience the web generally, and social media more specifically, is largely mediated through algorithms. Algorithms are computer programs that make thousands of decisions for us every day, but we don't often critically examine what is happening under the hood of the web to understand what we see and why. In this module, learn more about how algorithms work and what you can do about it.

Learning Objectives

  • Learn about the algorithms that shape the content curated "just for you" (#fyp)
  • Understand the hidden algorithms that influence your decision making
  • Understand the ways that algorithms have influenced others to make decisions that affect you

Options and Variations

  • Attempt either (or both) liking everything or not liking anything on Instagram, TikTok, or some other app. Write about and reflect on how, if at all, your experience of the app changes.
  • Work through the interactive demonstrations in ProPublica's "Breaking the Black Box" series. Write about what you learn.
  • Learn and write about about the terms "Algorithms of Oppression" and "Weapons of Math Destruction" as well as the work of the Algorithmic Justice League, and the term "

Resources and Tools

Bibliography

Algorithmic Fairness. “Algorithmic Fairness.” Accessed February 12, 2020. https://algorithmicfairness.wordpress.com/.
Brown, James J., and Jr. Ethical Programs: Hospitality and the Rhetorics of Software. University of Michigan Press, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/2027/spo.13474172.0001.001.
Gilliard, Chris. “Digital Redlining, Access, and Privacy | Common Sense Education.” Accessed February 13, 2023. https://www.commonsense.org/education/articles/digital-redlining-access-and-privacy.
Hill, Kashmir. “Accused of Cheating by an Algorithm, and a Professor She Had Never Met.” The New York Times, May 27, 2022, sec. Technology. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/27/technology/college-students-cheating-software-honorlock.html.
Honan, Mat. “I Liked Everything I Saw on Facebook for Two Days. Here’s What It Did to Me.” Wired, August 11, 2014. https://archive.is/e3DvO.
Meyer, Eric. “Inadvertent Algorithmic Cruelty.” Meyerweb (blog), December 24, 2014. https://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2014/12/24/inadvertent-algorithmic-cruelty/.
Morgan (Schmutzie), Elan. “I Quit Liking Things On Facebook for Two Weeks. Here’s How It Changed My View of Humanity.” Medium, August 14, 2019. https://medium.com/swlh/i-quit-liking-things-on-facebook-for-two-weeks-heres-how-it-changed-my-view-of-humanity-29b5102abace.
ProPublica. “Machine Bias.” Text/html. ProPublica. Accessed February 12, 2020. https://www.propublica.org/series/machine-bias.
The Good Men Project. “Big Data Algorithms Can Discriminate, and It’s Not Clear What to Do About It,” August 29, 2015. https://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/big-data-algorithms-can-discriminate-and-its-not-clear-what-to-do-about-it-wcz/.
Wallaroo Media. “Facebook News Feed Algorithm History | 2022 Update.” Accessed February 12, 2020. https://wallaroomedia.com/facebook-newsfeed-algorithm-history/.
Watters, Audrey. “Identity, Power and Education’s Algorithms.” Identity, Education and Power (blog), February 9, 2016. https://medium.com/identity-education-and-power/identity-power-and-education-s-algorithms-a766527bb6cd.
“Welcome to the Black Box: An Interview with Cathy O’Neill.” September 19, 2016. https://jacobinmag.com/2016/09/big-data-algorithms-math-facebook-advertisement-marketing/.