Analysis on How Algorithms Reshape People’s Existence, Cognition, and Relationships

DOI

10.2991/assehr.k.220504.109How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Algorithms; algorithmic society; being digital; algorithmic power; algorithms as a medium; algorithmic literacy

Abstract

Advances in technology are enabling algorithms to influence every aspect of our lives. This paper treats algorithms as a social force to reshape our existence, cognition and relationships rather than as a mere tool. Through exploring the use of algorithms by commercial and political forces and interpreting the new aspects of some classic theories in communication and sociology, this paper presents insights into the perils of algorithmic dominance and the significance of cultivating people’s algorithmic literacy. The paper finds that being digital, which is the premise of an algorithmic society, has an impact on human behavior through the use of users’ private data for commercial or political ends. Besides, algorithms are the medium between humans and the real world, and therefore shape people’s cognition towards information environment. Moreover, through constructing new social relationships, algorithms can exacerbate pre-existing prejudices and inequalities in society and invisibly control the labor process for platforms.

Copyright

© 2022 The Authors. Published by Atlantis Press SARL.

Open Access

This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Xinfang Zhang
PY  - 2022
DA  - 2022/06/01
TI  - Analysis on How Algorithms Reshape People’s Existence, Cognition, and Relationships
BT  - Proceedings of the 2022 8th International Conference on Humanities and Social Science Research (ICHSSR 2022)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 597
EP  - 601
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.220504.109
DO  - 10.2991/assehr.k.220504.109
ID  - Zhang2022
ER  -