Is the use of algorithms good or bad? 

Have you ever wondered what algorithms are and how they works? 

I bet you guys have no idea that algorithms are actually the basis of everything that we use on social media. In this blog we will be answering the question “Is the use of algorithms good or bad?” This blog discusses what an algorithm is, its pros and cons, and solutions to how to protect ourselves from potentially harmful algorithms.

• What is an “algorithm”?
• Benefits of the algorithm on social media platforms
• Drawbacks of the algorithm on social media platforms
• How to protect ourselves from the “bad” sides of social media
• Interview ( of a social media user )
• Conclusion on the algorithm

What is an “algorithm”?

The algorithm is a set of codes that an electronic device follows in order to solve a problem or perform a task. The algorithm that we are mostly familiar with is the algorithm that is used on social media platforms. Algorithms play a crucial role in shaping the user experience on social media, by helping users discover relevant content, interact with other users, and engage with the platform. Algorithms are used on social media platforms in various ways. These algorithms analyze the user behavior, demographics, interests, and behaviors in order to deliver personalized content, target ads, detect and remove spam and malicious content, and improve content creation. These algorithms play a significant role in creating the user’s experience on social media platforms by making it more engaging, meaningful, and safe.

Benefits of the algorithm on social media platforms 

1. Personalization: Algorithms help social media platforms provide personalized content to users based on their interests and behaviors. This makes the user experience more engaging and relevant.
2. Efficiency: Algorithms help social media platforms filter and sort through large amounts of content and data quickly and efficiently, which makes it easier for users to find what they’re looking for.
3. Revenue: Social media platforms generate significant revenue through targeted advertisement, that analyze user data and behavior to deliver ads to specific audiences.
4. User safety: Algorithms help social media platforms detect and remove harmful content, such as spam, fake news, and hate speech. This helps create a safer and more respectful environment for users.
5. Innovation: Algorithms have led to the development of new features and technologies, such as AI-generated content, that enhance the user experience and provide new opportunities for these platforms to innovate and differentiate themselves.

Overall, the algorithm has had many positive impacts on these platforms as it helps social media platforms provide personalized content to its users based on their interests and behaviors, it also filters and sort through a large amount of content and data quickly and efficiently, detect and remove harmful content, and gather innovation and the development of new features and technologies. The algorithms have had a positive impact on social media platforms by improving user experience, enhancing safety, and promoting new innovation.

Drawbacks of the algorithm on social media platforms 

1. Echo chambers: Algorithms can reinforce users’ existing beliefs and opinions by showing them similar content, which can create filter bubbles and echo chambers. This can lead to a lack of diverse perspectives and opinions.
2. Biases: Algorithms can be biased and perpetuate existing social inequalities, which can lead to discrimination and unfair treatment of certain individuals or groups.
3. Lack of transparency: Algorithms can be complex making it difficult for users to understand how content is ranked and recommended, or why certain ads or posts are shown to them.
4. Privacy concerns: Algorithms rely on user data and behavior to deliver personalized content and targeted ads, which can raise privacy concerns and make users feel uncomfortable.

While algorithms have several benefits on social media platforms, they also have some drawbacks that need to be addressed to ensure a fair and transparent user experience. These drawbacks can lead to a lack of diverse perspectives and opinions, unfair treatment of certain individuals or groups, difficulty in understanding content ranking and recommendations, and concerns about privacy and data usage. Addressing these negative impacts is essential to ensure a fair and transparent user experience on social media platforms.

How to protect ourselves from the “bad” sides of the algorithm

Algorithms can be bad when they perpetuate biases, lack transparency, create filter bubbles, raise privacy concerns, or are manipulated to spread misinformation. It’s important to be aware of these potential negative impacts and work to address them to ensure a fair and transparent user experience. Protecting ourselves from the “bad” sides of the algorithm requires awareness, critical thinking, and a willingness to seek out diverse viewpoints and opinions beyond those presented by the algorithm.

Some ways to protect ourselves from the “bad” sides of the algorithm on social media platforms are:

1. Diversify your sources: Try to seek out a variety of viewpoints and opinions beyond those presented by the algorithm. Follow accounts and pages outside your usual interests and perspectives to broaden your understanding of different issues.
2. Be aware of biases: Recognize that algorithms may be biased and perpetuate existing social inequalities. Be mindful of this and question the content that is presented to you, especially if it seems to reinforce certain stereotypes.
3. Monitor your data usage: Be aware of the data that social media platforms collect from you and how it is used. Consider adjusting your privacy settings and limiting the amount of personal information you share online.
4. Fact-check information: Double-check information presented on social media platforms, especially if it seems too good or too shocking to be true. Use reputable fact-checking websites to verify information and avoid spreading misinformation.
5. Take breaks: Consider taking breaks from social media to reduce the amount of time spent scrolling and to gain a better perspective on the content being presented.

This movie will elaborate about how algorithms works and how to protect ourselves from it.

Interview part

I interviewed a person who is very active on social media in order to gather their opinion on the algorithm and how it works. Let’s see what she thinks and be able to handle the work of algorithms.

Question 1 : “What do you know about the algorithm?” 

Answer : I know that the algorithm is used to provide us with content that we are interested in by analyzing our interaction and interests on the platform, and I also got many products that I bought because of the pop-up that advertised me based on my activity on social media. 

Question 2 : “What do you think are the positives and negatives of the algorithm?”

Answer :  I think that the positives are that it provides us with content and things that we are interested in. However from what I heard the negatives are things like it tracks you and can cause you to become biased and stuck in a bubble as it only provides us with the information that we are interested in. 

Question 3 : “How do you protect yourself from the algorithm?”

Answer : As I have been active on social media a lot I try to not consume only one side of the information. For example, if there was a controversy going on I would try to read both sides and keep an open mind so that I don’t get dragged into only one side or tricked into believing fake news.

Conclusion on the algorithm

In conclusion, the algorithms used on social media platforms are complex and constantly evolving. They are designed to personalize the content and advertisements that users see on they feed or search results based on various factors such as relevance, popularity, engagement, and user behavior.

The algorithms use different techniques to analyze a variety of data and user interactions to improve their performance over time. It has been developed for so long so it was very complicated and intricacy.

However, there are also potential negative impacts of algorithms, such as perpetuating biases, creating filter bubbles, and raising privacy concerns. It is essential to be aware of these potential drawbacks and work towards addressing them to ensure a fair and transparent user experience on social media platforms. Furthermore, understanding how algorithms work on social media platforms is important for users, content creators, and marketers to effectively engage with their audience and achieve their goals while promoting a positive and inclusive online environment.

In my opinion algorithms are very useful if the users know how to use it and are aware of it and its positive and negative impacts. I think the best way to make it more efficient would be that each company should take responsibility in sharing the process on how it works and how it consumes the information from users. Nonetheless, there are many issues in the algorithm that need to be solved by the person that controls it. 

However, it is hard to do so as the algorithm has been around and used for so long that all we can do is protect ourselves from the potentially negative impacts. In the end the algorithms that are used in today’s technology are so clever and personalized that you can barely tell or notice when it is being used. Just like in this blog, I bet you couldn’t tell that it was written by an AI. 😉