I know that algorithms are keeping track of the articles I click on and sending similar articles back to me--at least articles the algorithm thinks are similar. The question is this: does the algorithm really know anything about me? Does it, perhaps, know me better than I know myself? Have I left a footprint on the internet that, while it is not me, is somehow reflecting me back to me? An interesting prospect.
Tuesday, April 17, 2018
The Internet Wants to Make me a Better Person
I've noticed lately that the internet wants to make me a better person. I know that because I keep getting recommendations in my pocket for ways to become better. Below are the links for a few of them. Just to see how they added up, I only included links I've received in the past week that want to help me become a better person and have numbered list of things I can do to become that person.
I know that algorithms are keeping track of the articles I click on and sending similar articles back to me--at least articles the algorithm thinks are similar. The question is this: does the algorithm really know anything about me? Does it, perhaps, know me better than I know myself? Have I left a footprint on the internet that, while it is not me, is somehow reflecting me back to me? An interesting prospect.
I know that algorithms are keeping track of the articles I click on and sending similar articles back to me--at least articles the algorithm thinks are similar. The question is this: does the algorithm really know anything about me? Does it, perhaps, know me better than I know myself? Have I left a footprint on the internet that, while it is not me, is somehow reflecting me back to me? An interesting prospect.
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The algorithm is a set of rules that are meant to be followed. Unfortunately, that is not how life works. Even though, we would like to enforce them on everyone.
ReplyDeleteLizzy, your definition of an algorithm as a "set of rules" sent me to google. Most definitions identify algorithm as a math or computer model to solve a problem. Often those problems are complicated. I suspect, though I don't know, that most algorithms on the internet have one problem how to get us to click on a site, which is how they measure use and make money. So,they track certain patterns and send us links that fit those patterns. And yes, patterns fluctuate and change. What I wonder about is how closely those algorithms come to "guessing" who I really am. I like to think they can't. But, I admit, I don't know enough about how they work to be sure.
ReplyDeleteI feel as though algorithms pretty much just take what you've searched the most and find related things to it. It is actually pretty annoying. In my classroom, I am constantly searching for videos that would appeal to 7th grade students and that reflects on my YouTube account. So when I am at home and want to view something that I am interested in, I am met with a bunch of recommendations that do not reflect who I am at all. Because of that, I clear cookies, search history, etc. so that my "identity" can be reworked to what I like. So the algorithm is great at guessing who my teacher self is but not at guessing who my personal self is.
DeleteOn Netflix one summer during my undergraduate years, I was watching movie after movie. Netflix creates playlists that attune to what you've been viewing. Now, I like to watch movies that have characters with interesting arcs, that delve into the self, and that kind of make me think about life. The playlist Netflix created for me was "Mid-Life Crisis." Does that reflect who I really am? No. But there were a few good recommendations that aligned to my interests. So as far as "guessing" who we really are, I don't think the algorithms can do that. But they can help assert who you are.
I totally agree with Rebecca, I'm also a teacher and thought youtube's suggestions were annoying, so I had to create separate accounts to not get annoyed. I love to bake, so on my personal accounts I have various recommendations for videos and I actually like that it recommends such good videos but once in a while, some video creep in that make you wonder what the heck they are thinking.
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