Documentary Video Into AI: Machine Learning by Raghav Vuggumudi As machine learning gets more powerful, it has begun to play a role in almost every sector of our society. Should we be worried? Why You Should Care About the YouTube Algorithm by Annika Horne The YouTube algorithm has come under fire several times for promoting anti-social content, leading to limited reforms from Google. These reforms haven’t addressed the underlying issue: which is that algorithmic recommendations don’t have the scruples of human editors and often prey on our worst impulses. Outrage, in/group out group thinking, and salacious gossip are not just permitted by promoted by algorithmic recommendations, but former YouTube insiders admit they don’t have to be. Instead, Google has prioritized longer engagement over more positive user experiences. While YouTube provides a great deal of free educational content and entertainment, its enormous reach means that problems with the algorithm are serious social concerns. Users should consider the psychological factors underlying algorithmic recommendations on all online platforms, and how these recommendations affect their own beliefs and psyches.
