In this video, I explore how both algorithms and collaborative platforms like Wikipedia shape the way we experience information online. One of the biggest things I realized while working on this assignment is that the internet isn’t as neutral or random as it feels. A lot of what we see is actually being influenced behind the scenes, either by algorithms that track our behavior or by communities that build and curate information over time.
I’ve always been a frequent user of Wikipedia, almost daily, and I’ve definitely gone down my fair share of “Wikipedia rabbit holes,” where one topic leads to another and suddenly I’ve spent an hour learning something completely unexpected. Because of that, I’ve always seen Wikipedia as an incredibly useful and trustworthy resource. However, after this module, I began to see things differently; not in a negative way, but in a more informed and nuanced manner. I now realize that Wikipedia is more than a collection of facts; it is a living system shaped by people, rules, and decisions about what information is important or credible.
At the same time, I also looked at how algorithms function on platforms like YouTube and social media. These systems track our behavior and use it to recommend content, which can create a feedback loop where we are constantly shown more of what we already like or agree with. This process can make our online experience feel personalized, but it can also limit our exposure to new or different perspectives.
For example, this article explains how the YouTube algorithm works and how it prioritizes engagement and watch time:
https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2023/09/15/youtube-algorithm
This breakdown reveals more about the influence of user behavior and content performance on algorithmic recommendations.
https://www.beneblen.com/how-the-youtube-algorithm-works-harris-heller
Overall, this assignment helped me better understand that what we see online is not just a reflection of our choices, but also the result of systems and communities working behind the scenes. Whether it’s algorithms shaping our feeds or people collaborating on platforms like Wikipedia, the content we consume is always being influenced in ways we may not immediately recognize.
