Your Life in the Algorithm : 8 Aug 24
In this inaugural edition: Why are algorithms so secret? In the EU, TikTok is forced to shut down rewards program that unintentionally (wink, wink) targeted minors. And more...
As I might have mentioned previously, my forthcoming novel, The Salzburg Executioner, poses a question I’ve been contemplating (and bothered by) for a while:
What price is modern society paying allowing social media algorithms to define and impact not only what we’re exposed to online, but also so much of what we feel and experience in real life? And how does that translate to real-world actions? Including actions that are too often irreversible and tragic?
While the novel is a dual-timeline work of fiction, alternating between modern-day Seattle and 18th century Salzburg, it serves a rallying cry to the public to demand greater transparency from the companies that have a substantial impact on our relationships, mental health, and well-being.
The goal of Your Life in the Algorithm is to keep you informed and asking questions. Three curated articles, and occasional commentary from me, on this critically important topic. Consumable in four minutes or less. As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback on how to improve the work.
What you need to know this week
Social media algorithms are shrouded in secrecy. We’re trying to change that - The Conversation - 5 Aug 2024
And I quote: “… the companies behind social media platforms refuse to let the public peer under the hood. They often cite privacy concerns and competitive interests as reasons for limiting data access. These concerns are possibly valid. But they are often cynically deployed. And they should not preclude the possibility of more transparent and ethical research data access.”
TikTok Lite Rewards Program Shuts Down in EU for Its Mental Health Impact - TechTimes - 5 Aug 2024
And I quote: “It is known that TikTok's reward program offers coins that can be exchanged for real-world money, in exchange for continuous video scrolling on the app, following influencers, inviting users to join, and liking multimedia content.”
Even Taylor Swift isn’t immune to the dark side of social media - Fast Company - 6 Aug 2024
And I quote: “Digital life can simulate addiction and sometimes manifest as a distinct form of anxiety called “disconnection anxiety,” researchers Line Lervik-Olsen, Bob Fennis, and Tor Wallin Andreassen note in their book chapter on compulsive social media use. This can breed feelings of depression—a mood that recurs throughout The Tortured Poets Department.”
An “impetus” is something that makes a process or activity happen - or happen more quickly. The word also reminds me of two others I commonly wrestle with: impulsive and impatient. The Impetus of L.A. Fatzinger is my space to be impulsive with thoughts, impatient with ideas, and, along with the occasional favorable winds, clear skies, and a smattering of good luck, to move thoughts and ideas along more quickly. I hope it makes you think, laugh, and, as I always try to do, test your perspective.