Culture Study Podcast How Algorithms Are Changing the Way We Speak
Sep 10, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Adam Aleksic, a linguist and creator behind the popular Etymology Nerd platforms, explores how algorithms are reshaping our language. He delves into the rise of internet slang and the influence of social media on communication, including how phrases like 'Let's Go Brandon' evolve through digital culture. Aleksic highlights the tension between authenticity and marketing in modern advertising, while reflecting on how these linguistic changes affect cultural identity and personal expression in today's digital age.
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Algorithms As Language Infrastructure
- Algorithms act as new infrastructure that shape how language changes by incentivizing attention.
- Adam Aleksic argues platform metrics reroute speech and create productive linguistic forces.
Attention Economy Shapes Word Choice
- Platforms bake in attention incentives so creators optimize for retention and engagement.
- This attention logic pushes sensational language into mainstream media and headlines.
The Viral Feedback Treadmill
- Viral trends form a positive feedback loop between creators and algorithmic amplification.
- Aleksic uses Rizler and similar meme cycles as case studies of this treadmill effect.
