Group project in collaboration with Flora Lamy, Roos Anneveld, Mary Ivanovam and Vicor Mocnik.
YOU MAY BE MANIPULATED BY THE ALGORITHM
09-12.2022
Exhibition realised as a part of the cycle “Counter-visualities of Displacement. Recording violence through fiction”. Interactive installation depicting the scope of manipulations happening behind the closed doors of social media algorithms.
academic project
SEE RESEARCH
How is our free will conditioned by
algorithms in digital space?
See link below
We all encounter algorithms every day. By the simplest definition, an algorithm is a process or set of rules to be followed. Some of them are simple to understand, like how to use a microwave, and some are more complex. The problem that arises when interacting with complex algorithms is that we do not understand entirely how they work, which puts us in a position where we can be affected in ways we do not realize.
There are two main types of complex algorithms, automated processes and algorithms which react to the user’s action. Social media
algorithms, which are an example of the latter, work by identifying your interests through the posts you interact with and sending
you more content related to that topic. As you continue to interact predictably, the algorithm will give you the illusion that it is getting to know you better and better.
This personalized experience appeals to our egocentrism in order to capitalize on it. As a result of how a given algorithm is designed, different kinds of manipulation can occur, such as strategic advertising, shadowbanning or the creation of filter bubbles.
There are two main types of complex algorithms, automated processes and algorithms which react to the user’s action. Social media
algorithms, which are an example of the latter, work by identifying your interests through the posts you interact with and sending
you more content related to that topic. As you continue to interact predictably, the algorithm will give you the illusion that it is getting to know you better and better.
This personalized experience appeals to our egocentrism in order to capitalize on it. As a result of how a given algorithm is designed, different kinds of manipulation can occur, such as strategic advertising, shadowbanning or the creation of filter bubbles.
We want to uncover the strategies in which social media algorithms manipulate users. How is our free will conditioned by
these algorithms in digital space? How can we encourage our audience to be mindful of their social media usage?
We use the medium of an installation, featuring a digital and physical component. The digital part is a quiz in the form of a face filter, where users can follow different paths leading them to a social media user persona. They are encouraged to follow different fictional paths, not necessarily the one which is true for them. Behind, there is a script visualizing all of the different possible paths. The users are free to use the filer, map, or both simuntanuesly. Quiz format is a gamified, simple and understandable type of algorithm, offering the user an insight into themselves, triggering curiosity through the user’s ego.
We use the medium of an installation, featuring a digital and physical component. The digital part is a quiz in the form of a face filter, where users can follow different paths leading them to a social media user persona. They are encouraged to follow different fictional paths, not necessarily the one which is true for them. Behind, there is a script visualizing all of the different possible paths. The users are free to use the filer, map, or both simuntanuesly. Quiz format is a gamified, simple and understandable type of algorithm, offering the user an insight into themselves, triggering curiosity through the user’s ego.
CLICK THIS TO FIND OUT WHICH SOCIAL MEDIA USER YOU ARE
only on mobiles, sorry!
DECISION
TREE
The exhibiton proved itself as a form of a social experiment, analysing how the audience decides to engage with it. There were no clear directions, everyone was free to approach it as they will.
The digital quiz had a format of decision tree, which consisted of 20 questions in total. The average path led through 5 YES/NO questions, with no context or explanation. At the end, quiz revealed the result as the Instagram face filter. Most of the audience interacted with the digital part and enjoyed their filers, while much less decided to investigate the background of their movements, which proves the theory that the majority of users actions have a sole purpose of fulfilling the ego-centric desires.
The backstage had a clear overview of all possible paths with an explanation and on the backside of each question card.