Project 2: Change Within the Topic- The Digital Monster: The Evolution of Social Media Algorithms and Their Manipulative Power

ATTATCHING THE OUTLINE BELOW THIS WAS THE PROFESSOR FEEDBACK TO THE OUTLINE (Hi Sydney, I think it might help you in your introduction to perhaps reference or summarize (perhaps in a footnote) some prior research studies to set up your argument. Adding those sources will help set a research-based tone for the essay and to establish your credibility as an author.)

I AM ALSO ATTATCHING THE RUBRIC BELOW- PLEASE ADD IN SOME PARAPHRASING AND SUMMARIZING I GET EXTRA CREDIT. ABSOLUTLEY 0 AI

Title: The Digital Monster: The Evolution of Social Media Algorithms and Their Manipulative Power

Introduction

Statement of Fact-

At first, social media algorithms were made to improve users’ experiences by selecting appropriate content. Over time they’ve become powerful tools that change people’s behavior, spread false news and shape political debate.

Argument-

Social media algorithms have changed from simple suggestion systems to complex engagement driven systems. This has turned them into digital “monsters” that control how people think, promote addictive behaviors, and spread false information to make money.

Significance-

It’s important to understand this change because algorithms now have a big impact on politics, mental health, and views. We can push for more openness and moral charge in digital places if we understand how these systems have changed.

Body Paragraph 1-

Topic Sentence:

Social media algorithms have evolved from tools designed to improve user experience into systems that prioritize engagement at any cost, often leading to harmful consequences.

1. Evidence to Support Topic Sentence: The first algorithms were made to help people find material that was relevant to them by looking at their interest, likes and followers.
   1. Facebook’s early feed
2. Evidence to Support Topic Sentence: Things started to change when facebook algorithm updated to put more emphasis on what they considered to be meaningful interactions but instead boosted content that led to a lot of disagreement.
   1. The Facebook Papers
3. Evidence to Support Topic Sentence: We then saw an AI driven algorithm with tik tok which changed users algorithm to be based on behavior instead of their engagement.
   1. “How TikTok’s Algorithm Figures You Out” (The Atlantic).
4. Additional Idea to Consider in this Paragraph: More and more people continue to worry about how AI will affect mental health and society in the long run.

Body Paragraph 2-

Topic Sentence:

As social media sites worked to improve their formulas to get more people to interact with them, they unintentionally turned into places where false information, and societal division spread.

1. Evidence to Support Topic Sentence: Misinformation spreads faster on social media than factual information due to algorithmic amplification.
   1. Source: Pew Research Center study on misinformation spread.
2. Evidence to Support Topic Sentence: During previous elections social media algorithms helped spread political lies and fake news.
   1. Facebook and Twitter (X)
3. Evidence to Support Topic Sentence: Facebook’s algorithm change made clickbait and false headlines more common and people often choose anger over the truth.
   1. Kevin Roose, The New York Times, on Facebook’s algorithm changes.
4. Additional Idea to Consider in this Paragraph: What role does artificial intelligence play in content moderation? Is it possible for AI to fight fake news without limiting free speech?

Body Paragraph 3-

Topic Sentence:

As the discussion over social media algorithms heats up, it becomes clear that protecting free speech and preventing harm are at odds with each other. This brings up moral questions about digital censorship and bias.

1. Evidence to Support Topic Sentence: Many social media companies say that material needs to be moderated so that harmful ideas like hate and conspiracy theories don’t spread rapidly.
   1. TikTok and Facebook
2. Evidence to Support Topic Sentence: People who disagree with the idea say that algorithms favor some political ideas over others which has led to claims of censorship.
   1. Algorithms of Oppression by Safiya Umoja Noble (explains bias in search engines and social media).
3. Evidence to Support Topic Sentence: There are many discussions about how social media companies plan their sites to keep people interested even if it means putting ethics at risk.
   1. Your Undivided Attention podcast
4. Additional Idea to Consider in this Paragraph: Could algorithmic openness help solve this problem? If users could change how their feeds look, would that cut down on bias and manipulation?