Information Communication & Society· 2016Q1
The algorithmic imaginary: exploring the ordinary affects of Facebook algorithms
- 1,247citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2016year
Short summary
Facebook users' 'algorithmic imaginary'—their beliefs about how algorithms work—shapes their platform use and even influences algorithm design.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- The 'algorithmic imaginary' describes users' beliefs about what algorithms are, how they function, and what they should be.
- Awareness of algorithms and their perceived workings influences users' platform behavior.
- Users' imaginaries about algorithms are not passive but actively shape the algorithm's development and function.
- Examining the emotional impact of algorithms on users is crucial for understanding their societal influence.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
This article reflects the kinds of situations and spaces where people and algorithms meet. In what situations do people become aware of algorithms? How do they experience and make sense of these algorithms, given their often hidden and invisible nature? To what extent does an awareness of algorithms affect people's use of these platforms, if at all? To help answer these questions, this article examines people's personal stories about the Facebook algorithm through tweets and interviews with 25 ordinary users. To understand the spaces where people and algorithms meet, this article develops the notion of the algorithmic imaginary. It is argued that the algorithmic imaginary – ways of thinking about what algorithms are, what they should be and how they function – is not just productive of different moods and sensations but plays a generative role in moulding the Facebook algorithm itself. Examining how algorithms make people feel, then, seems crucial if we want to understand their social power.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Information Communication & Society, 2016 · DOI ↗
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Field: Safety Research
Safety ResearchSocial Sciences