Computer Science

Age group 13-15

How do algorithms shape the online information we see?

A truth that must be acknowledged is that algorithms play an integral role in almost all aspects of the lives

of the vast majority of the global population. The moment one picks up his treasured smartphone

algorithms are at work. From unlocking the device with facial recognition to deciding what content is fed

to the social media user, algorithms wield the power to influence lives, so it is beneficial to understand

how they work.

First and foremost, according to the University of York, an algorithm is a coded formula written into

software that, when triggered, prompts the technology to take relevant action to solve a problem, for

instance, a search algorithm, which is a computer algorithm, responds to a query by retrieving the

appropriate information stored within the data structure.

Computer algorithms are coded instructions for accomplishing tasks and rely exclusively on the inputs it

was built to perceive as triggers. This is in contrast to artificial intelligence which is more complex,

comprising groups of algorithms and is capable of changing those algorithms and developing new ones in

response to learned inputs and data.1

1
K. Ismail, “AI vs. Algorithms: What's the Difference?”, CMSWIRE, 26-10-2018.
https://www.cmswire.com/information-management/ai-vs-algorithms-whats-the-difference/ (Accessed
14-08-2023)
Due to its efficiency, popular social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok

utilize artificial intelligence algorithms. The algorithm style that these platforms use aims to

learn the user’s interests and preferences to show them content they’ll find interesting. The respective

platforms generally focus on engagement and duration of time spent to determine an individual’s

preferences.

Upon initial engagement with a platform, a user will be shown a variety of content, which will not wholly

align with their preferences. Thus, the algorithm focuses on a user’s interactions with content such as their

likes, shares and comments to determine what content they are interested in and how interested they are in

seeing posts from a specific person or account. By identifying a pattern with the content a user engages

with, the algorithm determines which content to present on a user’s feed.

Furthermore, algorithms are important because approximately 60% of the global population uses social

media and approximately 52% of Americans prefer to get news on a digital platform.2 With so many users

on these platforms and the abundance of content available, order and relevance are a necessity which

algorithms provide. Algorithms provide a method for social networks to prioritize information based on

what they believe users prefer and eliminate low-quality or irrelevant content.3

Finally, while one can argue that online sources are preferable to print media due to their environmental

benefits and quick access, it must be noted that algorithms shape what information a user receives. They

2
E. Shearer, “More than eight-in-ten Americans get news from digital devices”, Pew Research Center,
12-01-2021.
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/01/12/more-than-eight-in-ten-americans-get-news-from-di
gital-devices/ (Accessed 15-08-2023)
3
C. O’Brien, “How Do Social Media Algorithms Work?”, Digital Marketing Institute, 28-04-2023.
https://digitalmarketinginstitute.com/blog/how-do-social-media-algorithms-work#:~:text=Algorithms%20
are%20used%20on%20social,front%20of%20the%20right%20people. (Accessed 15-08-2023)
automatically filter out information that doesn’t seem to align with a user’s views, causing one’s

perception of reality to be distorted and knowledge limited since the person is consistently exposed to

information that adheres to their perceived social or political ideology. Eli Pariser, a long-time internet

activist, has coined the term ‘filter bubble’ to describe this occurrence.

In conclusion, it is important to view matters from every angle, and while algorithms simplify and speed

up tedious and complicated processes in the name of efficiency, they are also capable of confining

individuals to an unrealistic and dangerous ‘bubble’.

Allred, K., “The Causes and Effects of “Filter Bubbles” and how to Break Free”, Medium, 13-04-2018.

https://medium.com/@10797952/the-causes-and-effects-of-filter-bubbles-and-how-to-break-free-df6c5cbf

919f (Accessed 14-08-2023)

Brooks, R., “How do algorithms work?”, University of York.

https://online.york.ac.uk/how-do-algorithms-work/#:~:text=An%20algorithm%20is%20a%20coded,to%2

0produce%20the%20desired%20result. (Accessed 14-08-2023)

Cox, K.L., “6 Social Media Algorithms Marketers Need to Know About in 2023”, HubSpot, 17-07-2023.

https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/how-algorithm-works-facebook-twitter-instagram#what-is-a-social-m

edia-algorithm (Accessed 14-08-2023)

Dr Fletcher, R., “The truth behind filter bubbles: Bursting some myths”, Reuters Institute, 24-01-2020.

https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news/truth-behind-filter-bubbles-bursting-some-myths (Accessed

15-08-2023)

Hutchinson, A., “Meta Provides New Insight into its Evolving Feed Algorithms, and How its Using AI”,

SocialMediaToday, 29-06-2023.

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/meta-provides-insight-evolving-feed-algorithms-ai/654367/#:~:t

ext=Meta%20has%20provided%20a%20new,seeing%20on%20Facebook%20and%20Instagram.

(Accessed 15-08-2023)

Ismail, K., “AI vs. Algorithms: What's the Difference?”, CMSWIRE, 26-10-2018.

https://www.cmswire.com/information-management/ai-vs-algorithms-whats-the-difference/ (Accessed

14-08-2023)
Lum, N., “The Surprising Difference Between “Filter Bubble” and “Echo Chamber”, Medium,

27-01-2017.

https://medium.com/@nicklum/the-surprising-difference-between-filter-bubble-and-echo-chamber-b909ef

2542cc (Accessed 15-08-2023)

Metz, R., “Algorithms are everywhere. Here’s why you should care”, CNN Business, 19-11-2021.

xhttps://www.cnn.com/2021/11/19/tech/algorithm-explainer/index.html (Accessed 16-08-2023)

O’Brien, C., “How Do Social Media Algorithms Work?”, Digital Marketing Institute, 28-04-2023.

https://digitalmarketinginstitute.com/blog/how-do-social-media-algorithms-work#:~:text=Algorithms%20

are%20used%20on%20social,front%20of%20the%20right%20people. (Accessed 15-08-2023)

Shearer, E., “More than eight-in-ten Americans get news from digital devices”, Pew Research Center,

12-01-2021.

https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/01/12/more-than-eight-in-ten-americans-get-news-from-di

gital-devices/ (Accessed 15-08-2023)

WSJ Staff, “Inside TikTok’s Algorithm: A WSJ Video Investigation”, The Wall Street Journal,

21-07-2021. https://www.wsj.com/articles/tiktok-algorithm-video-investigation-11626877477

(Accessed 16-08-2023)