Algorithms

For my next blog post I would like to talk about algorithms and their different uses in online communities. The definition of an algorithm is a process or set of rules to be followed in calculation or other problem solving operations, especially by a computer. For the purpose of this class there are two main uses. First, algorithms help to filter different connections to lead users to topics or products that the algorithm determines that they will want to see. A good example of this use of algorithms is Amazon's use by leading its users to products that are similar to ones that they have purchased in the recent past. The other use of algorithms for the purposes of this class is in platforms such as Twitter and Facebook which is used by making certain stories trending and more available for users to view based on how many people have reacted to the specific stories.

Personally, I do not think that algorithms are the best thing for users of these products and platforms. These algorithms are created by the companies that use them so they are obviously going to set them up so that they are an advantage to themselves and increase the product sales or the platforms use. These social media platforms have the ability to use these algorithms to make whatever stories they want, the top stories on their sites and encourage users to view them and make them the higher viewed topics. This gives more people the opportunity to react to the topics which can influence even more people to believe what is being put out there even if it isn't actually the most talked about subject at the time. A good example of this is the hashtag #HillaryForPrison which had to be changed because the platform and its algorithm determined that it was not appropriate and even though many people were talking about it, it was not featured as a top subject.