The increasing prevalence of curation algorithms on social network sites (SNSs) has become very interesting. Algorithms influence what we watch and how we make sense of the things we see. As most of us are conditioned to passively consume content, we often undermine the amount of influence it has on our subconscious. This further influences your moods, decisions and even the formation of cognitive biases.
In this blog, we talk about this interesting influence and its consequences. We take into context the differentiated TikTok Algorithms in China and the USA.
The Idea
Think about this – USA and China both have large populations that actively consume content on TikTok. However, if you were to see a Chinese teen scroll his or her feed vis-a-vis an American teen, you would start noticing something fishy.
In China the content is largely based on sparking curiosity among the youth. The children are purposely exposed to more scientific experiments and engineering-related TikTok’s whereas in America, teens are exposed to trendy dance reels and overall less “value-adding” content.
The reward mechanism functions differently in both nations thereby having a significantly varied influence on the youth.
The Impact
This paradox is responsible for the manipulation of the knowledge of people. It has a huge impact on the youth of the country and it’s not completely unrealistic to assume that in the long run. This can have significant impacts on the overall growth of countries due to a largely “dumbed down” population.
These curation algorithms arrange online delivered content by classifying, prioritising, and filtering information. As per the existing theory of gatekeeping of content – curation algorithms are shaped by actors, developers, engineers, and content creators. These curation algorithms are one mechanism that contributes to the monoculture of a filter bubble. The contribution of these toward the informational diversity of the digital society is remarkably higher than expected, these algorithms form to be the backbone of many news feeds on everyday social media platforms.
For example, Instagram makes use of such curation algorithms to personalise the feed of every single individual based on data resulting from one’s online activities. Now, if you’re a content creator and handle social media platforms, it is important to understand the algorithm and increase engagement. Leveraging TagMango can help you build connections in the social media world, taking you another step closer to success.
Are Algorithms all Evil?
Nonetheless, when used correctly, algorithms have their benefits. Algorithms can handle massive amounts of data, bringing innovation to science and pushing human capacities. Here are a few examples:
Governments: A big part of the job description of any government is regulating and monitoring the population. With automated production and transportation systems – algorithms prevent the overload of government interactions. For example, An electoral system created by an algorithm can eliminate the large degree of gerrymandering, improving the result.
Health Care: Health care is a significant and essential growing expense in people’s lives. In this industry, a lot of support is required for increasingly complex systems. These include insurance, facilities, prescriptions, etc.
Algorithms are what run the internet today. They are the very thing responsible for influencing and promoting ideas and thought. Social media companies do not reveal the underlying motives behind their algorithms. However, it’s crucial to realise and act on their potential impacts. We at TagMango, believe in facilitating better learning through workshops and courses. This is to create a stronger and smarter youth!
