Algorithms are complex computational formulas and models that predict our responses or engagement with content in an attempt to personalize the experience and retain our attention. Digital platforms, such as Internet browsers and social media, customize ads and search results based on prior engagements with the platform and the personal information provided, such as a personal profile. Each time we use a digital platform, it gathers more data to further refine and tailor what we see.
On one side it's very useful in helping weed through the thousands of pieces of information we see and hear, and delivering content or options we are most likely to want or need. However, the other side leaves us vulnerable to manipulation and misdirection.
Do you know how much information Google has gathered about you? Try the following activity:
adapted from the University of Louisville Research and Assistance under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial-Share-Alike 4.0 International License.
From: WeAreTechWomen Team. (May 19, 2020). Algorithmic Literacy: Tomorrow's #1 Skill Everyone Needs to Learn.
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