James Bridle – Something is wrong on the internet (Medium)
the internet is more than just for the adults. The world ranges in age groups, and the internet begins to cater to all, revealing all the demographics once hidden. Normally in America, we rarely see children adverts/commercials/shows/content/material unless we’re in that bubble as a parent, kid, grandparent, etc. The internet is different because of how accessible it is for children. In real life children can’t typically buy things with their own money so the adverts are limited to particular stores and environments where they can be found/where their parents take them. However, these past generations have shown us that children are now capable of having their individual agency on the internet. Therefore, videos like the ones described can now be advertised specifically to the kids, and not their parents. Viewings have turned to monetary gains for the video makers. Children now have power to provide creators financial results through views instead of direct dollar transactions. Video makers have now capitalized on children’s entertainment with platforms like youtube, using algorithms to reel children(and parents(?)) into endless viewing.
These automated algorithms are dangerous to those who suffer the consequences of the malfunctions. For every automation comes a percentage of fault. The problem is most prevalent when we ask where the flaws showed up, and to who? Using children as the audience we can easily see how screwed up it is these “accidents” are harmful despite their intent. This entire system is applicable to all type of algorithmitc systems in society.
What other systems can you see the faults/”accidents” be potentially harmful? Why are they necessary to keep or regulate? Is this fixable? What is being won in the sake of the consequences? What’s more important?
Rachel Metz – There’s a new obstacle to landing a job after college: Getting approved by AI (CNN)
AI is being used to challenge our roles as potential employees. Out positions in jobs are being calculated and analyzed by AI.
How does it feel knowing that AI is a potential barrier for employment? Is it justifiable?
When making a decision, we tend to do research to do an educated decision. But AI allows people to start doing “educated” guesses of what we’d look like as an employee for them. But again, AI is biased. What is is based on? What is it looking for? Why are we shifting our career identifies into quantifiable measures that suit an “ideal model”? What do you think that does to the interview process for jobs? Would you guys prefer a company to judge you through your “paper identity” or through an in person interview?
Jia Tolentino – How TikTok Holds our Attention (New Yorker) (read or listen)
TikTok: performs for personal attention retention vs Instagram/Facebook: performs for direct personal communication
young generations can become self made celebrities through social media
What’s the point of TikTok? Why are the children so good at it, and why do adults have trouble finding success in it?
Is it possible to make something so much for children and so far away from the adult, that makes it impossible to capitalize? If the adult can’t find success in a platform, what happens?
Rosa cinematic universe on Tik Tok => self made celebrity example, using talent to self make…what happens when we don’t have a company/label backing up a person’s talent? What happens when the audience becomes the agency that supports/promotes/invests directly?
Hows do we categorize different social media genres(?)
Eric Meyer – Inadvertent Algorithmic Cruelty (article)
“It feels wrong, and coming from an actual person, it would be wrong. Coming from code, it’s just unfortunate.”
The design is for the ideal user, the happy, upbeat, good-life user. It doesn’t take other use cases into account.
This makes me think of finstas again…theres no space for user that is something other than happy. These platforms reduce us to minimal emotions and set our defaults to be happy, but we rarely all are…so why does social media work either way? If it’s made for the happy user, does it turn us into happy users? If we smile more will we actually become happier? Or are we facilitating an internet facade? Or is social media really making us happier? If not, then why do we stay on it?
Rachel Thomas – The problem with metrics is a big problem for AI (article)
Goodhart’s Law states that “When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure.”
Automated essay software judges on vocabulary/grammar.=>what about students who have learning disabilities that consequently result in grammar mistakes? What about students who don’t learn textbook English? Why is slang non professional? Who’s setting the “bar”? And what does grammar have to do with evaluating a students ideas/argumentative reflection?