Why Should I Trust You? It's Not Me, It's My Algorithm: A Conversation w Claire Wardle About Breaking Through Our Echo Chambers
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Oct 23, 2025 
Claire Wardle, co-founder of the Information Futures Lab and associate professor at Cornell, dives deep into how algorithms shape our online experiences. She explains the emotional rollercoaster algorithms create, often prioritizing outrage over truth. The conversation explores the profound impact of echo chambers on public trust and how algorithms target vulnerable users. Claire also emphasizes the importance of digital literacy and in-person engagement to counteract algorithmic influence, urging listeners to navigate their feeds thoughtfully.
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Algorithm Turned A Health Worry Into A Purchase
- Brinda described searching ChatGPT and Instagram after a perimenopausal weight gain concern and being served targeted supplement ads.
- She bought a supplement after the algorithm amplified her fear and offered a quick solution.
Engagement Became The Core Optimization
- Algorithms evolved from collaborative filtering into AI-driven systems optimized to maximize user engagement.
- Platforms learned that emotional content (rage, fear, validation) keeps people on site longer and drives revenue.
Invisible Algorithms Erode Shared Reality
- Claire says algorithms are a major driver in declining trust but not the sole cause.
- Their danger is invisibility: people don't see how feeds shape reality and exclude other viewpoints.
