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Using racial discourse communities to audit personalization algorithms
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Using racial discourse communities to audit personalization algorithms

Ryan Stoldt, Raven Maragh-Lloyd, Tim Havens, Brian Ekdale and Andrew C. High
Communication, culture & critique, Vol.16(3), pp.158-165
09/01/2023
DOI: 10.1093/ccc/tcad015
url
https://doi.org/10.1093/ccc/tcad015View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Personalization algorithms are the information undercurrent of the digital age. They learn users' behaviors and tailor content to individual interests and predicted tastes. These algorithms, in turn, categorize and represent these users back to society-culturally, politically, and racially. Researchers audit personalization algorithms to critique the ways bias is perpetuated within these systems. Yet, research examining the relationship between personalization algorithms and racial bias has not yet contended with the complexities of conceptualizing race. This article argues for the use of racialized discourse communities within algorithm audits, providing a way to audit algorithms that accounts for both the historical and cultural influences of race and its measurement online.
Social Sciences Communication

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