What are algorithms?
They are essentially a set of step-by-step instructions or rules that guide a computer through steps to process data and achieve a desired outcome. And, they aren’t just for computers; you use algorithms in your daily life. For example, following a recipe to bake a cake or using directions to get to a friend’s house.
Origins of Algorithms
Algorithms were not created by a single individual; rather, they evolved over time through the contributions of various mathematicians and scholars. The term “algorithm” is derived from the name of the Persian mathematician Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, who lived in the 9th century. His works on mathematical procedures significantly influenced the development of algorithms.
Why Have Algorithms Become So Powerful?
Algorithms have now become essential in our online lives. They power our search engines, social media platforms, and recommendation systems. Their ability to process massive amounts of data quickly makes our online experiences smoother and more personalised. When you see personalised ads or content on your feed, that’s algorithms at work, predicting and tailoring content based on your behaviour.
Social platforms like Facebook and Instagram did not always rely on algorithms to the extent they do today. In their early stages, these platforms displayed content in a simple, chronological order. This meant that users would see posts based on the time they were published, with the newest content appearing first.
As the volume of content grew and user engagement became a key focus, both platforms began to implement algorithms to manage and personalise the content feed.
Susceptibility to Cognitive Biases
You should know that algorithms are not just neutral tools. Companies specifically engineer them to play on cognitive biases to keep you engaged. This increases the time you spend on their platforms.
Are you aware of how the content you consume can manipulate your natural tendencies like confirmation bias?
Confirmation bias is when you favour information that supports your existing beliefs. Algorithms can amplify this bias by feeding you content similar to what you’ve engaged with before. This can make you overconfident in your views, limiting your exposure to different perspectives.
Algorithm-Driven “Echo Chambers”
Algorithms contribute to the creation of echo chambers. An echo chamber is a situation where you encounter information and opinions that reinforce your own. For example, social media algorithms show you posts that your friends like. This results in a narrow, often repetitive stream of content, isolating you from other viewpoints or information.
An algorithm-driven echo chamber happens when the content you see online is heavily filtered to reflect your previous interactions. This can solidify your beliefs and opinions, making it harder for you to encounter and engage with differing viewpoints.
Echo chambers can create polarised communities. They reduce your exposure to diverse ideas and make you more resistant to opposing opinions. This echoing effect can distort your understanding of reality and increase social fragmentation. Social fragmentation is the process of people and groups in a society becoming more divided, leading to increases in arguments and fights.
How to Break Free
Breaking free from these echo chambers is possible, and also empowering.
Here are some steps you can take:
Personal Growth Through Awareness
Are you taking proactive steps to diversify your information sources? How often do you seek out opinions that differ from your own?
By consciously expanding your media diet and engaging with diverse viewpoints, you can foster a more balanced understanding of the world. There lies your power to shape your own informed perspectives.
Take action today. Follow channels with diverse viewpoints, question the content you consume, and engage in meaningful discussions with people holding different perspectives. This kind of intentional effort can help you step out of algorithm-driven echo chambers and enrich your understanding of the world.
