The Impact of Digital Feedback Loops and Optimization

The chapter explores the addictive nature of entertainment and digital platforms, focusing on feedback loops and optimization techniques employed to keep users engaged. It discusses the influence of recommendation algorithms on platforms like YouTube, showcasing how algorithms can reinforce biases and promote divisive content. The narrative also delves into the implications of feedback loops in offline scenarios such as predictive policing and healthcare, highlighting the consequences of information and power disparities in algorithmic decision-making.