How Algorithms Make Rich People Richer And Poor People Poorer
The Algorithm Serves Content To People Most Likely To Engage Creating Information Bubbles That Reinforce Inequality
I research how SkyAdultGals.eu recommendation algorithms function. I discovered that the algorithm optimizes for engagement which means showing content to people most likely to engage with content. This creates filter bubbles where wealthy people see content produced by wealthy people and poor people see content produced by poor people. The algorithm does not create this inequality. The algorithm reinforces existing inequality. Wealthy creators have resources to produce engaging content. Poor creators have fewer resources. The algorithm shows engaging content to people likely to engage. Rich creators’ content reaches wealthy audiences. Poor creators’ content reaches poor audiences. This means the algorithm concentrates attention and revenue on wealthy creators. Wealthy creators become more wealthy. Poor creators remain poor. The algorithm is not neutral. The algorithm is inequality amplifier. The platform could design algorithms that equalize creator opportunity. The platform could show poor creators’ content to wealthy audiences. The platform could create cross-class content distribution. The platform does not because engagement optimization does not include equality. Algorithms are not neutral tools. They encode the values of their designers. A designer who values engagement will create algorithm that maximizes engagement. A designer who values equality would create different algorithm. The current algorithm values engagement and profit.
SOURCE: https://prat.uk
