Human attention is in the highest demand it has ever been. The drastic increase in available
information has compelled individuals to find a way to sift through the media that is literally
at their fingertips. Content recommendation systems have emerged as the technological solution
to this social and informational problem but they've also created a bigger crisis in
confirming our biases by showing us only and exactly what it predicts we want to see. Data
versus Democracy investigates and explores how in the era of social media human cognition
algorithmic recommendation systems and human psychology are all working together to reinforce
(and exaggerate) human bias. The dangerous confluence of these factors is driving media
narratives influencing opinions and possibly changing election results. In this book
algorithmic recommendations clickbait familiarity bias propaganda and other pivotal
concepts are analyzed and then expanded upon via fascinating and timely case studies: the 2016
US presidential election Ferguson GamerGate international political movements and more
events that come to affect every one of us. What are the implications of how we engage with
information in the digital age? Data versus Democracy explores this topic and an abundance of
related crucial questions. We live in a culture vastly different from any that has come before.
In a society where engagement is currency we are the product. Understanding the value of our
attention how organizations operate based on this concept and how engagement can be used
against our best interests is essential in responsibly equipping ourselves against the perils
of disinformation. Who This Book Is ForIndividuals who are curious about how social media
algorithms work and how they can be manipulated to influence culture. Social media managers
data scientists data administrators and educators will find this book particularly relevant
to their work.
