Episode 25: Algorithm Literacy

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Yes, she's back!!! In this episode, April discusses "algorithm literacy" as a critical part of overall media literacy. It's important to understand that algorithms, while they are a necessary and useful part of the online universe, also play a big role in online polarization and the normalization of  extreme viewpoints.  The more you know about them, the more effectively you can control what you see online.

Episode 25 Show Notes:

Here's the article discussing the results of the study by Project Information Literacy:
https://www.edsurge.com/news/2020-01-16-report-colleges-must-teach-algorithm-literacy-to-help-students-navigate-internet

Pew Research Center's discussion of the need for algorithm literacy:
https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2017/02/08/theme-7-the-need-grows-for-algorithmic-literacy-transparency-and-oversight/

The Algorithm and Data Literacy Project, a great source for kids to learn about algorithms (you'll find the YouTube video I mentioned in the podcast here):
https://algorithmliteracy.org/

A LibGuides page from the University of Singapore's website on the topic of algorithm literacy:
https://libguides.nus.edu.sg/digitalliteracy/algorithm

Paper by Harvard professors  Cetina Presuel and Martinez Sierra on the problems caused by social media platforms' reluctance to see themselves as news publishers and distributors:
http://www.scielo.org.pe/pdf/rcudep/v18n2/2227-1465-rcudep-18-02-261.pdf

PBS Nova investigates the spread of radical extremism on social media through algorithms:
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/radical-ideas-social-media-algorithms/

Troubling information about the ways that Russian troll farms used Facebook algorithms to spread disinformation before the 2020 election:
https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/09/16/1035851/facebook-troll-farms-report-us-2020-election/

Financial Times op-ed advocating for more accountability of social media algorithms:
https://www.ft.com/content/39d69f80-5266-4e22-965f-efbc19d2e776

Some helpful articles with tips and tricks about how individuals can limit the influence of algorithms:
From Mashable: https://mashable.com/article/how-to-avoid-algorithms-facebook-youtube-twitter-instagram
From LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-reduce-effect-algorithms-your-behavior-worldview-guide-mikko/
From BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-38769996