via ResearchBuzz Firehose (thanks Tara): Timothy B. Lee in Ars Rechnica
Opinion: The case against YouTube’s toxic “up next” algorithm.
In The New York Times, reporters Max Fisher and Amanda Taub explain how YouTube propelled the career of controversial Brazilian politician Jair Bolsonaro. Before his election as Brazil’s president, they write, Bolsonaro “had long used the platform to post hoaxes and conspiracies.”
Ostensibly, YouTube’s recommendation algorithms are politically neutral. However, they’re optimized to boost “engagement,”and in practice that means promoting videos with extremist and conspiratorial points of view. In Brazil, that has meant bringing a cadre of far-right social media stars to prominence, ultimately helping them gain power in national politics.
According to the Times, Brazilians are also increasingly turning to “Dr. YouTube” – relying on YouTube videos rather than conventional professionals for medical advice.
“Harvard researchers found that YouTube’s systems frequently directed users who searched for information on Zika, or even those who watched a reputable video on health issues, toward conspiracy channels,” the reporters write.
We’ve seen similar developments here in the United States, where social media has boosted the profile of anti-vaccine activists.
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