TikTok: Algorithms & bias

Joseph Reagle

Our question(s)

How do platform algorithms affect (marginalized) communities?

Overlooking Black creators

Renegade: Harmon; D’amelio & Rae

ziggitylyer’s frustrations

@ziggityler #greenscreenvideo I’m going live in 30 minutes to answer questions. Y’all need to get this message out. Please. #fypシ #fyp #wrong #justice ♬ original sound - Ziggi

Issues

What is cultural, what is technical, what is purposeful?

Algorithmic bias

Bias and fairness

For you

Simpson and Semaan (2021)

Findings?

algorithmic exclusion … construct and reconstruct exclusionary structures within a bounded sociotechnical system, or more broadly across societal structures. (Simpson & Semaan 2021, p. 24)

How?

. . .

“Ontological security”

In [Giddens’] view, the ability to both routinely enact and assume an identity while also seeing aspects of one’s identity visually represented in others provides individuals a sense of security about their existence. (Simpson & Semaan 2021, p. 3)

Being seen

made our participants feel as though their identities are not as worthy of being seen by others within the community they imagine themselves a part of on TikTok. (Simpson & Semaan 2021, p. 21)

“Resistance strategies”?

  • Graceskepner: Are resistance strategies (reposting, “not interested”) genuine acts of defiance, or just platform affordances that generate more engagement?

Subcommunities on…

QICs?

Other questions, insights, or connections?

  • Kiana4625: appropriation extends beyond dance to slang/AAVE
  • Meiqi Jiao: Chinese LGBTQ+ creators self-censoring to avoid algorithmic filtering
  • Giorgiachristiansen: exclusion as intentional design, not a glitch
  • Sami L: location-based algorithm retraining while abroad
  • Dang.hazel: should platforms involve marginalized communities in design before harm?

Conclusion

Wrap up

ex. Design alternative??

Propose 5 (bullet-point) recommendations for systems and algorithms that support healthy and diverse online communities?

. . .

Review

What were your recommendations for healthy and diverse online communities?